Comments on: From PBS Newshour: Jim from Occupy Portland Debates Mayor Adams

By: patrick

patrick — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:08:55 +0000

I, personally, am curious why these police have been hired to take no action. For more than a month, they patrolled our encampment without taking actions against the very issues the mainstream media vilified us for. Yesterday morning, the spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for nothing–sending out well-armed officers, horses, motorcycles, vans, city buses, flood lights, and the like–without taking any action. While they later came into camp to make arrest, the actions of that night were without reason.

Occupy Portland is not over. Seizing this public land from the public will waste taxpayer dollars. These occupiers will find another place to occupy in greater numbers, I imagine. There, Mike Reese and Nick Fish will spend more of our money on nothing, to no specific end. You should be calling the government to ask them to stop harassing our movement, rather than continuing the waste our dollars on frivolously defusing peaceful demonstrators. How many millions of dollars will the city waste before they ask they realize the occupation will make the city’s job of communicating with the public easier and increase the quality of our lives?

By: james Sutton

james Sutton — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:43:52 +0000

Why don’t the occupiers get a job….to pay back the tax dollars they wasted. They have to cut from somewhere to pay for all those cops.And it comes out of your welfare checks you 99% dipsh*ts.

By: Open Thread: Another GOP Debate Tonight… | My Blog

Open Thread: Another GOP Debate Tonight… | My Blog — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 04:35:43 +0000

[...] Well, they’re not foolish adequate to categorically announce a use of violence, though a line from Mayor Adams in this talk jumped out during me: “…our idea with this transformation was to understanding with it in a pacifist way, and we [...]

By: MarkS

MarkS — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 15:53:04 +0000

I can answer that, but don’t speak for any of the Occupy Groups. Some do , some don’t. Sometimes. If necessary.
Yes, lots of them. No. For what? Oh, various people. Probably not, but you’ll have to ask him. I don’t have that much time right now.

By: MarkS

MarkS — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 15:45:35 +0000

You go Jim! The Mayor’s in a tight spot, but “it’s just my job” is not an excuse that holds water. “It’s just my job” is one of the Industrial Capitalist rationales that has allowed so many atrocities to continue for so long. The other is “it’s not my job.”

Excellent strategy Occupy Portland! PBS gives a 5 minute intro bent on cramming every police reported incident within a 2 mile radius of every Occupy Camp, and says “Occupy Portland Bad” as a lead in to a dialog? What kind of shit is that? And Occupy Portland rightly and modestly points out how it is helping to provide some care for a few of those that the city, and the system have abandoned.

By: Partly Cloudy

Partly Cloudy — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:56:52 +0000

I’m distressed and very concerned to hear that Jim and Co are having a Saturday evening party. The Occupy Portland organizers are openly defying a city ordnance at the expense of innocent people. Apparently, the Occupy Portland Organizers such as Jim are seemingly placing innocent children and families in harms way; using these people as a ploy to stop the Portland Police from clearing the camp. Using families and children as a type of shield/defense is deplorable!
Occupy Portland Organizers- you have made your point regarding the need for the U.S. to restructure it’s experiment in Capitalism and Democracy. I salute you with all my heart, for having the courage to make a stand. Please, close up your occupation here in Portland and move to where the real legislators and government changers are= Washington DC!

By: Jacky C

Jacky C — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:43:11 +0000

NICE JOB Jim Oliver. Keep the focus on the greivences. You look like a leader.

By: Justin Allen

Justin Allen — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 20:45:34 +0000

The above comment is, unfortunately, pretty insightful.

There has been a failure to self-police. I am 100% in support of Occupy Movements across the country but it’s time to rethink tactics locally.

The problems cited by Adams do exist. He is not making them up.

Flash mobs & decentralized occupying of the real targets of protest – banks, court houses, foreclosed properties – would be more effective along with better policing–if someone isn’t protesting, they shouldn’t be welcome, and the same goes for anyone utilizing “black bloc” tactics. These parks are not symbolic of anything and they’ve attracted real problems.

Mobile Occupy events (There is an “Occupy The Highway” from NYC to DC) would limit some of the problems we saw here in PDX. Same goes for flash mobs and more organized protests.

By: faciLITator

faciLITator — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 19:46:37 +0000

After listening to Jim Oliver (very nicely done!) and Sam Adams (no comment, “lame duck”) I can better understand the consensus decision to continue the occupation of the squares. I have revised my prior belief that moving out would be best and have reached partial consensus myself.
I still believe that the opportunity for community outreach is present and, while not joining the “Occu-Festival” personally, I will be hosting a solidarity party. We will be watching and supporting as, despite what was predicted, “the revolution (is being) televised”!
(Wouldn’t it be nice if Michael Moore came back and/or Amy Goodman flew in for the weekend or at least Rabbi Rose and Storm Large, etc. came to the party…and they stayed to “interact”?)
In Solidarity – Peace, Love & Hang Loose

By: satori

satori — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 18:58:27 +0000

mayor adams has consistently demonstrated a willingness to listen, seeking to understand if you will. his job requires that he support the desires and needs of ALL citizens and unfortunately this situation is a lose, lose. This enormous pressure is evident in his posture and speaking tenor. mayor adams is dealing with a scope of real time responsibilities and priorities that just don’t work in tandem with the METHODOLOGY of OP. mayor adams acknowledges the importance of the OWS mission while Jamie does not acknowledge the responsibilities of the mayors office. it is impossible for mayor adams to satisfy both sides. these people are talking apples and oranges, adams – 1, for demonstrating focus and committment, jamie -1, for demonstrating focus and committment.it’s a wash