Put Occupy L.A. on the road. Editorial by Steve Lopez LA Times

[sce56]

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1130-lopez-occupyabus-20111129,0,3312411.column
November 30, 2011
I found several used buses for sale on Craigslist on Tuesday, at prices as low as $900, and here's my advice to Occupy L.A.:

Buy one.

If the tents at City Hall haven't already been removed by the time you read this, they soon will be. And Occupy L.A. can either fizzle, or it can come up with a second act. From the beginning, the national Occupy movement has tapped into public anger over the corrupting power of money in politics and the economic disparity in a system rigged to benefit the few at the expense of the many. I've been a little cranky about the lack of creativity and initiative at Occupy L.A., but I've never discounted how important the movement has been in raising those issues.

So my vote would be for a second act that takes the occupation on the road. You've heard of Meals on Wheels? This would be Squeals on Wheels. If a college rally were being held against budget cuts and tuition hikes, the Occupiers would head to it — and scream the loudest. No such rally? Occupy would call one, drawing a crowd through social media channels. Occupiers could stage read-ins at the hundreds of Los Angeles Unified schools that have lost library staffers. And sit-ins on the front lawns of every CEO who got a fat bonus while laying off employees. They could occupy the driveways of executives from international banks that have been implicated in the laundering of millions of dollars for Mexican drug gangs.

And as I've said before, I don't know why there's no "Occupy Disneyland," where the productivity of hotel laundry workers is documented by a device they call the electronic whip. Meanwhile, the workers fear a spike in their share of health insurance costs even as Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger, who made $28 million last year, was handed a raise.

Interesting Idea.

[msongs]

1. if there is no occupy disneyland Mr. Lopez why don't YOU start one. ooops 1% er nt

[pnorman]

2. I agree!

When groups get to the point that they feel INVINCIBLE they're sooner or later headed for disaster! That bus suggestion might not be the thing, but something like that that could be well worth considering.

As a teenager in LA in the 40s, the political climate was pretty far right, and the LA Times was a bastion of the Open Shop. But definitely not now! To burn that in a fit of hubris might have bad consequences for all.

[sce56]

3. Yeah I know he is usually far right that is why he surprised me with that one...

[pnorman]

4. I'm not familiar with him, and I may have inadvertantly validated an asshole

But I stand by the rest of my posting. NOBODY/NOTHING is invincible!

[Magoo48]

5. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.....

I agree with mr. Lopez: stay mobile, be creative, and think one step ahead....I am so proud of all of you!
You have courage and youth; you are leading the way. Be peaceful be safe.

[bemildred]

7. +1. You beat me to it.

Use the advantage of mobility.

[GliderGuider]

6. Last night I had the idea of "Occupy Riders" based on the civil rights "Freedom Riders".

It's identical to this idea. I hope someone runs with it - it seems such an obvious next step.

[Bennyboy]

8. Just start heading to DC.

A caravan, moving very slowly through towns from LA to DC. VERY SLOWLY. Get people from that town to join in. Send advance people ahead to prep the press ahead so the impact will be gigantic.

[GliderGuider]

9. Start a movement of many such caravans crisscrossing the nation - call it "Occupy Our Country" /nt

[Bennyboy]

10. Exactly.

Reach DC all in one week, July 1, through the fourth...

Then OCCUPY THE SHIT OUT OF THEM!