FREE SPEECH ZONE | Occupy Minnesota- Lessons From Wisconsin

By MichaelCavlan, Free Speech Zone
November 19, 2011

Those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it --- words to hold dear today.


Free Speech Zone
The Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases.

 

A  year ago the country witnessed an Occupation. One that predated the Occupy Wall Street. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker ignited a firestorm when he attempted to end the rights of state workers' Trade Unions.

 

The good people of Wisconsin rebelled. There were occupations, takeovers of government buildings. A spirit of open, proud and public defiance came shining through. Rallies of 100,000 were not uncommon. Revolt was in the air and being discussed openly.

 

Then things got really interesting. The Wisconsin South Central Labor Council, upon the urging of it's membership issued a call. An open and public call.

 

GENERAL STRIKE

 

Then it happened. They came. They showed up.

 

They were political operatives of the machine known as the Democratic Party. "Here, sign this petition, work for this candidate with our party" they crooned. Put all of your efforts into a re-call and for an election for "our" Supreme Court candidate. She will overturn the actions of that "bad old Republican Supreme Court Judge."

 

The Occupations and takeovers ended. The call for a General Strike ended. People worked for their candidates. The Judge who would change all this lost her race. In questionable circumstances, it must be noted. The Democratic Party machine did not question it. Sounds like a familiar story, doesn't it?

 

All the beautiful energy died in that moment. Energy for real, sustainable change.

 

I have been involved in the Occupy Minnesota since Day One. I beg the people there and Occupations everywhere to not allow this to happen again. After all, most of the selected officials involved in supressing Occupations all over have primarily been Democratic Party selected officials. I use the term selcted officials in a very deliberate manner. Because these people are, as a general rule selected by the corporate powers, their political parties, their media to win and work for them. The 1%.

 

As the saying goes "The Democratic Party is where progressive movements go to die." Not to mention democracy itself. Do not allow them to do that Occupy.

 

Your message and noble goals are far too important. Do not allow your generations ideals be consumed and co-opted by them, their lies and their machine.

 

Let us start that conversation. With openness, transparency and honesty. For your sake and ours.

 

Michael Cavlan

Candidate US Senate

Minnnesota Open Progressives

 

During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act-

George Orwell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Comments

    Comment viewing options

    Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

    New

    Submitted by offinonoiliog (not verified) on Sun, 11/20/2011 - 12:15pm.

    Thanks for the sensible critique. Me & my cousin were just preparing to do a little research on this. We got a book from our local library but I think I learned more from this post. I'm very glad to see such wonderful info being shared freely out there..

    Occupy Minnesota et al

    Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 11/30/2011 - 6:05am.

    As a resident of Minnesota and a free American, I find it apalling that people occupy city parks and property in search of answers and solutions. Sitting on your butts complaining that you are unemployed will not get you a job. Nor will complaining to state officials about our economy do any good. You want real answer then you should go to the source of many of our nations ills. We have more people on the government dole than any other time in our history. We have a national debt that is out of control. We have democrats blaming republicans and vice versa. The truth? They are both to blame. Freddie and Fannie Mae should have been dismantled years ago. The federal reserve never should have lowered interest rates as low as they did. Banks shouln't have given loans to people who didn't have the means to pay them off (and the people getting the loans shouldn't have applied for loans if they couldn't afford them. Then we have the house and the senate giving bailouts to corporations, when the corporations should have been allowed to fail. That is how a free market economy works people!  Where should you be protesting? Washington DC. Tell the elected officals to be smarter with your tax money. Tell them to stop  giving into unions. Tell them to bring out troops home. Tell them to seal out borders.  Tell them all of your complaints. Maybe, just maybe, you will be heard if you go to the right people.

     

    Helen

    Submitted by Helen (not verified) on Thu, 12/01/2011 - 6:00pm.

    Thanks for the informative article, it was a good read and I hope its ok that I share this with some facebook friends. Thanks.

    Helen

    Submitted by Michael Cavlan RN (not verified) on Fri, 12/02/2011 - 6:02pm.

    Of course you can. In fact I hope you do. I also conside this part of the cellective commons, so to speak.