This was always going to devolve into a kind of hemp-rich Lord of the Flies. I’m surprised at some of the surprise:
“What we’re trying to build here,” said Jeff Smith, a member of the Occupy Wall Street press working group, “is a model for the bigger society we’d like to see.”
And there’s the rub: The “model” civilization that’s sprung up at Zuccotti is itself increasingly divided between the stakeholders in the nascent movement who feel invested in the emerging economic, social and cultural causes of “the 99%,” and hangers-on, including a fast-growing contingent of lawbreakers and lowlifes, many of whom seem to have come to Zuccotti in the last week with the cynical encouragement of the NYPD.
The dedicated participants’ stronghold is on the park’s east side, facing Broadway. The stragglers tend to cluster on the park’s west side, facing Cedar. The rift between them is growing. And two of OWS’s core values, generosity and inclusion, are being put to a crucial test.
Every protest scene or dissent park draws from a dark carnival element, and Zuccotti has had members of this group since the first week of its occupation. But the swelling ranks of freeloaders and disturbed characters in the last few days has pressed the working group members who’ve organized the protest and so far kept it from going off the rails to refine their ideas about just how open their movement should be.
Sorry, but there’s no such thing as a “freeloader,” Comrade. There are only those who need, and those who have the capability to provide for those needs — yet they selfishly believe that just because their labor brings in wealth, they’re permitted to “hoard” it, and so deny the needy their fair share.
Spread the wealth, my brothers and sisters. And you freeloaders? Don’t let the new Man — these “working groups” and their hierarchies of power and influence — keep you down!
“cynical encouragement” of the NYPD?
Hey, they’re just trying to help a felon out…
Ah, so this is all the NYPD’s fault. It couldn’t be that the Owwwies didn’t really think this through. It all would have worked out wonderfully, if not for The Man.
Socialist revolutions always descend into violence, squalor, and misery – although the OWS crowd seems intent on setting a new land-speed record for devolving into total chaos.
Build a fence, says I.
I think the burning question here is what percentage is living on the west side?
That whole 99% thing may need revision…
“…a kind of hemp-rich Lord of the Flies.”
Man, that is A+ right there.
I can see the NYPD engaging in “asymmetric” policing – telling every mope, skell and bum that they can get 3 hots and left alone by heading over to Zuccotti Park.
To each according to their needs, bitches.
Of course, Stalin was also into “no work, no food”. I wonder how they’re going to square that circle.
I think they should march the undesirables out to the country and abandon them there. That’s what Stalin would have done.
It will be Occupy Gulags for the more incorrigible lumpenproletariat.
Some history of how it’s done in the real world. Listen up OWS. There are lessons to be learned. Can you learn the right ones?
“I can see the NYPD engaging in “asymmetric” policing – telling every mope, skell and bum that they can get 3 hots and left alone by heading over to Zuccotti Park”
Telling them? They should break out the paddy wagons and transport them!
“cynical encouragement of the NYPD”… I’m can’t remember where I heard it to give credit, but just remember “It’s Not Blood On The Street It’s Just Holonnaise Sauce…..”
Eastpark has always been at war with Westpark.
TWO MINUTE HATE, BITCHEZ!!
1st OWSer: “Whatta we DO, sarge?”
2nd OWSer: “Yeah, what DO we do, sarge?”
2nd Asst. Understanding Facilitator/cook: “We surround them!”
1st OWSer: “Oh, that’ll be easy, there’s millions of ’em in all three sides of us!”
SRS, Beck on OWS: Let Bolognese flow in the streets!
…a rift is growing between east and west sides…
When this goes all Biggie/Tupac, I’ll cry and cry…
” a kind of hemp-rich Lord of the Flies. ”
Lord of the Roaches?
The verified, way way past Politico standards, list of supporters of the OWS movement.
@18 that should be a you tube vid
build a fence
Then we’d need to build a Snake Plissken.
So the bums (possibly at the urging of the NYPD) are Cloward-Piven-ing the OWS movement?
Touché!