Saturday, December 10, 2011

Protesting ... what, again?

Somebody please remind me what the Occupy folks are supposed to be protesting. Or standing up for. Or whatever.

Because it sure seems to me like they just can't stand success. Anybody's. And they don't seem to want the Alamo City thrive.
The local [Occupy] group said Saturday that it will march to the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce for a peaceful demonstration at 3 p.m. Monday. Its purpose is to show solidarity with movements including Occupy Oakland, which shut down its local port in early November and called the latest blockade to support longshoremen in Longview, Wash., in their dispute against Export Grain Terminal.

In a general assembly meeting, Occupy San Antonio voted to take a local union's suggestion to protest where it can.

“Even though the Chamber of Commerce supports local businesses, they spend a lot of time supporting the bigger corporations,” said Meghan Owen, 30, an Occupy San Antonio facilitator. “Large corporations are gaining footholds in our community, and that's not necessarily a good thing.”
(from the Express-News)

It's not necessarily a bad thing, either.

In fact, I'll say it is a good thing. It means that other companies find the San Antonio area a good place to invest their businesses in. Which brings jobs. And growth. And general prosperity for the city and the governmental entities that rely on growth for more revenues.

Don't get me wrong, the success of local businesses is a good thing, too. But we also need big businesses. Do you really think the city is going to keep growing if we just ask for more taco trucks and bike rental places and tell any potential Toyotas that we don't want their kind around? Really?

Tell me I'm wrong about this. Because it sure seems that the Occupiers just don't give a damn about anyone else, which makes it hard to argue that they represent the 99 percent of whatever.
“Even though the Chamber of Commerce supports local businesses, they spend a lot of time supporting the bigger corporations.”
So, damn them. I guess.

4 comments:

Dave said...

It all seems to be working backwards. Usually, people get so fed up over a specific issue that they organize and protest. It seems now that we have a bunch of people (though, from what I have seen downtown, a bunch might be generous) gathered simply for purpose of protesting. Now that they have the protestors, they are looking for any issue to protest against.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could have these people meet-up and decide to use their forces to do some community service projects like painting over graffiti or helping the elderly with yard work?

Albatross said...

I like the way you think, Dave.

mick said...

> Somebody please remind me what the Occupy folks are supposed to be protesting.

Looks like the two main issues are lobbying and the lack of anyone getting prosecuted for the subprime mortgage debacle. But I'm sure there were people protesting all sorts of other things too. They didn't seem that cohesive.

> the success of local businesses is a good thing, too. But we also need big businesses

Of course both would be best. The local businesses don't always survive the big ones moving in though. That's not a reason to drive big business away, but it's probably why it's "not necessarily a good thing".

And I totally agree that Dave makes an excellent point. Actually doing constructive would have been better. Perhaps since one of their issues is mortgage related, helping the homeless? ...is that why they were all sleeping in a park?

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