Occupy D.C. what-ifs by Geezer

REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

Occupy D.C. what-ifs

POSTED BY: GEEZER
UPDATED: Sunday, February 5, 2012 19:45
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VIEWED: 792
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Thursday, February 2, 2012 9:42 AM

Keep the Shiny side up

As far as I'm concerned the Occupy D.C. folk can stay at McPherson Square and Freedom Plaza as long as they want.

I do have some scenarios that I think would be interesting to play out, though.

1. One of the major RV owner's associations decides to have a CAMP-In D.C. protest and parks their big RVs on McPherson Square and Freedom Plaza, protesting lack of RV parking on National Park Service land in D.C. They run their generators 24/7 and play hillbilly music at full blast through their external speakers during every General Assembly.

Would the Occupy folks complain? Would they defend the right of the RV folks to protest?

2. At the next Occupy General Assembly, around 10,000 new people show up. One moves that the Occupy camps be removed immediately after the meeting ends, and that only informational kiosks can remain in the parks. The motion is seconded, and the question is called. The 10,000 vote yea and the motion is carried. A motion to adjourn is made and seconded and approved, and the 10,000 start cleaning up the park.

Since direct democracy had its say, would the Occupy folks go along?

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Friday, February 3, 2012 4:26 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

As for scenario #1 , there's a small problem.

Most RVs capable of showing up are already getting pimped and primed for the start of the NASCAR 2012 schedule.

The Daytona 500 is coming up , in just a couple of weeks.

" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Friday, February 3, 2012 7:24 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Won't address #1, it's too ridiculous to address. Except that it's pretty obvious the people who live/work there would complain first and loudest and demand police presence, and the police would get rid of them post haste, plus more than a few OWSers would probably go over to join them. As for #2, aside from being equally absurd, it wouldn't work. For one thing, a "consensus" has to be reached, but more importantly, there's this thing called a "block"...which I won't detail as obviously you have no interest, let the words suffice. If one is offered, the issue has to be debated and accommodations made (if possible) to get the person to remove the block. That entails time, discussion, modification, etc., which I have no doubt your 10,000 would neither stick around for, participate in, or do so with any civility.

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Friday, February 3, 2012 2:14 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)

# 1. Sure, welcome. Play your "hillbilly music" as loud as you'd like; our drum circle will join you! Would you like a beer, or perhaps something stronger? Either way, welcome, and glad you could join us and support our cause!

# 2. Feel free to vote however you'd like. Don't be surprised if some number of our group decides to protest in the wake of your elections, though. Or are you suggesting that such protests should be outlawed? If there were a vote to outlaw the Tea Parties and do away with their gatherings, would you support such a move?

In other words, if democracy had its say, would the teabaggers go along with it?

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Friday, February 3, 2012 8:02 PM

FREMDFIRMA

Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:
In other words, if democracy had its say, would the teabaggers go along with it?

Of course not, come on now - every time so far is doesn't go their way the mask comes off, the brownshirts go on, and we get to see what they really are...

I think we have enough examples of their jackbootery to know exactly what kind of Jackals we're dealing with, alas not that they have a monopoly on that kinda behavior.

-F

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Saturday, February 4, 2012 4:47 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up

Quote:
Originally posted by Niki2:
Won't address #1, it's too ridiculous to address. Except that it's pretty obvious the people who live/work there would complain first and loudest and demand police presence, and the police would get rid of them post haste, plus more than a few OWSers would probably go over to join them.

So if the people who live/work there complain about the OWS folks, then they'll leave too?

And what about the First Amendment rights of the RV folks? Don't they have a right to occupy ground and protest?

Quote:
As for #2, aside from being equally absurd, it wouldn't work. For one thing, a "consensus" has to be reached, but more importantly, there's this thing called a "block"...which I won't detail as obviously you have no interest, let the words suffice. If one is offered, the issue has to be debated and accommodations made (if possible) to get the person to remove the block. That entails time, discussion, modification, etc., which I have no doubt your 10,000 would neither stick around for, participate in, or do so with any civility.

If there's 10,500 people there, and 10,000 agree to something, wouldn't that be a consensus?

The "block" sounds interesting too. Seems to serve pretty much the same purpose as a filibuster; to tie up action the majority wants by requiring discussion, debate, etc. that a small group could extend endlessly to prevent an actual vote.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Saturday, February 4, 2012 4:52 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up

Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:
Or are you suggesting that such protests should be outlawed?

As stated, "As far as I'm concerned the Occupy D.C. folk can stay at McPherson Square and Freedom Plaza as long as they want."

It appears that the Park Police are acting on Niki's suggestion (although she applied it to the theoretical RV folks and mot Occupy D.C.)and moving the Occupy folks out of McPherson Square because folks are tired of them camping there against Park Service regulations.

They're being told they can still protest there, but can't camp out.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Saturday, February 4, 2012 4:54 AM

KWICKO

Speaking of direct democracy and consensus, suppose 100,000 OWS folks take up residence in Zuccotti Park, then vote that the park is open for all, camping is allowed, police are not, etc.

Would you respect their vote?

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Saturday, February 4, 2012 10:37 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up

Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:
Speaking of direct democracy and consensus, suppose 100,000 OWS folks take up residence in Zuccotti Park, then vote that the park is open for all, camping is allowed, police are not, etc.

Would you respect their vote?

If I don't care if they stay in McPherson Square, why would I care if they stay in Zuccotti Park?

Would you get upset if 1,000 tea Partiers decided to occupy your home?

"Keep the Shiny side up"

ETA: From some local polls, looks like a majority of folks would like the camping to end.

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/01/occupy-d-c-camping-is-the-camping
-ban-the-right-call-poll--72022.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-buzz/post/occupy-dc-arrests-tu
rning-point-between-protesters-police-poll/2011/12/02/gIQAJnaoWO_blog.html

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Saturday, February 4, 2012 10:50 AM

KWICKO

Quote:
Originally posted by Geezer:

Would you get upset if 1,000 tea Partiers decided to occupy your home?

Probably not as upset as you'd be if 1000 teabaggers occupied your wife. Hey, I can be ludicrous, too! :D

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Sunday, February 5, 2012 7:45 PM

RIONAEIRE

Beir bua agus beannacht

Quicko, drum circles are so cool.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

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