150 people turn out for the Climate and Sustainable Jobs Rally 2013 Oly WA

Wednesday 19 December 2012, Scott on the stand at Thurston County Courthouse, during a pre-trial Motion to Dismiss hearing, Judge Christine Pomeroy, retired, pro-tem presiding.

Stay up to date with Scotty's struggle for justice, Scott Yoos Support Page.

then we can step back and talk about the tactics to make change happen. I have been somewhat fixated on the controversy about the black bloc, the whole diversity of tactics debate since the Chris Hedges cancer of black bloc challenge. My friend Austin Kelley sent along an interesting link this morning that makes the point that while we argue about a single tactic, and while we argue about diversity of tactics as if it is one thing (diversity - doesn't that mean a bunch of things?) , we neglect the strategy that ties tactics together. Here is some of what Austin sent along:

What is a demand?

“[A demand] is a goal which is not only a thing but, like capital at any moment, essentially a stage of antagonism of a social relation. Whether the [demand] we win will be a victory or a defeat depends on the force of our struggle. On that force depends whether the goal is an occasion for capital to more rationally command our labor or an occasion for us to weaken their hold on that command. What form the goal takes when we achieve it…emerges and is in fact created in the struggle, and registers the degree of power that we reached in that struggle.”

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A couple of quotes and some thoughts.

"[The founding fathers] conferred, as against the Government, the right to be left alone -- the right most valued by civilized men." -- Justice Louis D. Brandeis (1856-1941) US Supreme Court Justice, 1928

Indeed, the right to be left alone.

We are living in important times. There is great upheaval across the land. The people are rising up against the status quo, more so each day. They are rising up against inequality, against bad environmental practices, against social woes.

The Occupy Movement that is growing across our nation is a manifestation of this discontent. It is a clarion call against the status quo. People have had enough of the system, both financial and governmental. Something must give.

The criticism surrounding its lack of cohesiveness is quickly addressed by a single phrase. The same that was espoused by the revolutionaries of the 1770s: taxation without representation.

No matter your issue, whether it be environmental, economic, or social, the dilemma is the same. We are taxed every day by the current system, economically, socially, and emotionally, yet we are not represented by those we elect.

The invisible thumb of the free market rests squarely upon the scales of justice and equality, and prevents us from seeking the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness we were promised. Indeed, that promise has been eroded to the point of oblivion.

If we are to be successful today, we must coalesce. We must stand for equality. We must stand for reciprocation. Taxation without representation is not and never has been tenable. We must push forth under the banner of our Founders, for were they here today they would be with us.

We must demand reform, and if we are not granted substantial and meaningful reform - if the current system cannot modify itself to our will - then revolution is the only recourse.

We must commit ourselves to this task. It will not be easy, and people will suffer. The powers that be will undoubtedly go to great lengths to maintain their stranglehold upon their power. We must not be deterred, for we are righteous in our endeavor.

Thanks to Abby Zimet at Common Dreams for her thoughts about this and for running this video there.

So little, so late. So many squandered opportunities, and now Obama wants to take a stand. Is this because the poll numbers show his job is now on the line? I am eager to see the guy use the bully pulpit to push good public policy, but I have very little confidence in this guy. I hope I am wrong about him. Maybe he has hit an "aha" moment where he understands what he needs to do, but he does have a significant history of talking the good talk, then caving in to right-wing demands. And the pattern has strengthened the right-wing, so progressives/liberals/scientists (however we might identify ourselves) now face a Republican party that would repeal the law of gravity on behalf of corporate interests if they could. We are moving in an election cycle where the Dems have a very large number of Senate seats in play and where the mood of the country provides fertile ground for demagoguery. It may have finally dawned on President Obama that despite serving corporate interests pretty loyally during his term in office so far, that the "deciders" don't really need him, the deciders can do quite nicely with Romney or Perry. So I have two questions about President Obama's sudden commitment to taxing the rich: 1.

Speak truth to power!

Dear White House,

A foreign policy of aggression does not honor our military service personnel. We must bring troops home. We must end this international belligerence! Stop bullying!

Berd
www.facebook.com/WhiteHouse/posts/226512484028704
[memorial day peace vigil video]

A couple photos and a video from the event. The Olympian also has a story, I'll put a link down below.

Sunday 22 May 2011—Members of the Olympia local and Western Washington chapters of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Veterans for Peace Rachel Corrie Chapter local 109, and many other community members built a wall out of cardboard boxes to represent the Military-Industrial Complex, and called to Turn the Budget Around—to re-direct military spending toward mutually uplifting peaceful alternatives, like schools, health care, environmental protection, and full employment.

The Wall of the Military Industrial Complex, dividing people from each other.

Artesian Rumble Arkestra adds to the festive atmosphere

Turn the Budget Around!

video:

March for Leonard Peltier