Quote Of The Day

Robert Reich does a good job saying something that I said the other day:

If there’s a single core message to the Occupier movement it’s that the increasing concentration of income and wealth at the top endangers our democracy. With money comes political power.

Yet when real people without money assemble to express their dissatisfaction with all this, they’re told the First Amendment doesn’t apply. Instead, they’re treated as public nuisances – clubbed, pepper-sprayed, thrown out of public parks and evicted from public spaces.

Across America, public officials are saying Occupiers have to go. Even in universities – where free speech is supposed to be sacrosanct – peaceful assembly is being met with clubs and pepper spray.

The First Amendment is being stood on its head. Money speaks, and an unlimited amount of it can now be spent bribing and cajoling politicians. Yet peaceful assembly is viewed as a public nuisance and removed by force.

The First Amendment Upside Down. Why We Must Occupy Democracy

It's sobering to read this coming from folks like Reich and Bill Black, because they're establishment people you wouldn't expect to be talking about how messed up things are. Read Reich's rant through to the end, and you'll see what I mean. That people like them see this should be one more reason to be concerned that the next few years may be very perilous.