thanks AtLast. i've seen this in my local occupy movement as well... it seems to be a widespread issue, which doesn't surprise me since the spaces are public. they've been talking (here) about establishing a permanent space here indoors... where people don't have to camp out, but can participate in organizing and demonstrating. i see issues with occupying houses... i know of local anarchist groups that have already been doing this in sf and berkely (in my experience they are mostly spoiled rich white kids) and i think that the occupy movement would need to distance themselves from these groups to have any credibility and be very discerning in choosing their targets
...and i think it's important to remember that the housing crisis is only part of the issue. it's so much more complicated than that... it's about big companies not being accountable in many situations (gambling with tax payer dollars, owning and controlling the food supply even as we subsidize it), regulations that don't benefit the people or the planet, but allow corporations to do as they please, the dollar being the biggest motivation in our economic system at the expense of all else. there need to be fundamental changes, and i don't think that blaming the big banks is going to get us there, i think that puts us in the victim stance and keeps us stuck. i'm not really sure what i the next steps should be, but i think that there needs to be a shift in thinking before we can get there. imho.
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