Is America more sharply divided than ever before? If so, is that a bad thing? | America’s Watchtower

americaswatchtower.com/2011/01/15/ia-america-more-sharply-divided-than-ever-before-if-so-is-that-a-bad-thing/

” The future direction of the country should be too impassioned of a debate to sit idly by and watch from afar. To sit idly by and passively submit to the will of our leaders will, over time, result in a soft tyranny over the people. In a free society we have the chance to form the future of the country and while we may be divided and while we may get angry with one another once in awhile, that is a product of that free society. And it sure as hell beats the alternative.”

Mitt Romney sure would like to make everyone sit down and shut up, and dissenters have these discussions in quiet rooms. (Does that mean prison cells?) He has been trying to divide people with rhetoric about Obama, about Occupy Wall Street. He continues to try and paint Occupy NH as unAmerican, just because we got in his face and asked him tough questions. Tyrannical leaders don’t like to answer tough questions. (Go ahead and ask a member of Congress why they exempted themselves from Obamacare, or the same laws that put Martha Stewart behind bars for insider trading.) They like pre-approved questions and censorship. They don’t like to be harassed with real questions because that makes them have to give complicated answers and usually that exposes them for the frauds they are. “Buildings don’t pay taxes….” We already knew that Mr. Romney, but maybe if you weren’t so out of touch with the rest of America, (and reality), you would know that the 99% includes a huge portion of America. Mainly, 99% of it. Hmmm. I wonder how many of those people didn’t vote for you in South Carolina?

While this hypocrite continues to try and divide the middle class and the poor, we will continue to unite the middle class and the poor so that everyone has a chance to become part of the middle class or better. This country already is divided. The candidates themselves are divided and say many divisive things. I don’t understand how he could possibly think one person asking tougher questions than normal is trying to divide this country. Especially when the questions aren’t even criticizing America. They are criticizing you Mr. Romney.

So once you pull your head out of the clouds and begin to see the world for what it is, then we welcome your comments and feedback. But until that day, you are attributing to the division of America much more than Occupy Wall Street ever could. And even that probably isn’t making much of a dent in the divisions this country has already become accustomed to.

Ron Paul’s son, Rand, detained at US airport – Telegraph

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-politics/9033651/Ron-Pauls-son-Rand-detained-at-US-airport.html

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“A spokeswoman for the Kentucky Senator said he was being held “indefinitely” after he set off an alarm in an image scanner used at the airport’s security check point.”

So I have to ask this question, Is Senator Rand Paul engaging in direct action to highlight the abuses of the TSA on ordinary citizens, and also, by using the word “indefinitely” trying to attract attention to the NDAA which gives authorization to the president to ask for the indefinite detention of any United States citizen or group of citizens they view are giving comfort and aid to the enemy?

Are the seeds of liberty being planted in the senate? I’d like to hope so. Perhaps we can call on our representatives and other high profile people to engage in more acts of civil disobedience of this nature.

Whether or not this was intentional of Rand Paul or intentional of the TSA agents themselves is up for debate, but the attention it has gotten is not up for debate. Soon the conversation will begin about the over reach of the TSA. (Which does not just control the skies, but our roads, rails, and I believe our waterways as well.) This was either a coincidence, or a deliberate act of civil disobedience. A senator being detained by the TSA after speaking out against the NDAA makes a big statement. Who was making what statement is yet to be discovered, but it got me paying attention.

Upcoming Events for Citizens United Weekend

Grassroots Action Day to Protect the Middle Class
Public Event · By Protect NH Families

Thursday 8:00am until 4:00pm

With the 2012 legislative session in full swing, reckless politicians in Concord are determined to carry out a politically-motivated ambush on New Hampshire’s middle class – including dozens of proposals that would weaken – or wipe out – the right of thousands of Granite State workers to collectively bargain for better working conditions.

These ruthless legislative attacks are designed to undermine the economic security of hard-working families across the state, and are out-of-step with mainstream support for preserving collective bargaining rights. Measures like so-called “right to work” laws and denying workers the right to have a collective voice on the job will do nothing to help the state’s economy – and many of the proposed laws would have a disproportionate impact on the people we count on to educate our kids, keep our communities safe, and help protect the “New Hampshire Advantage.”

On Thursday, January 19, the House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee will hold a public hearing on several bills intended to strip public workers of the right to collectively bargain. Now is the time to have a voice – it’s likely that this will be the only public hearing on this legislation before it moves to the House floor for a full vote.

Please stand with New Hampshire working families, and help us send a clear message that we want our legislature to stop attacking the middle class and focus on creating more and better work opportunities for people in the Granite State. Our January 19 Grassroots Action Day will kick off at 8:00 a.m. with coffee and an informative briefing – we’ll also have pointers available for folks interested in giving citizen testimony at the public hearing.

Contact info@protectnhfamilies.org for more information – we hope to see you there.

Legislative Office Building – Coffee & Briefing 8:00-8:45am, America Votes
4 Park Street, Room 302, Concord, NH

PSA (POSITIVE STREET ART) LAUNCH PARTY (outreach)
Public Event · By Cecilia Ulibarri and Manuel Phelany Ramirez (who created huge banner at occupytheprimary)

Thursday
6:30pm until 8:30pm

Want to know what the buzz is all about??? Want to be part of our local art movement?
Join us for some refreshments and some networking while we launch our new venture!

PSA’s Mission Statement:
To encourage, enlighten and educate the public
about urban art and its unlimited potential for
a positive impact on our community.

Let’s paint this town a million colors!

Visualize Nashua
88 Main Street, Nashua, NH 03060

Rally to Unite Citizens for Democracy
Public Event · By Occupy Boston

Friday
4:00pm until 8:00pm

4:00 – 4:20 – Community Gather Time + Arts and Entertainment
4:20 – 4:30 – Opening Remarks
4:30 – 4:50 – We the People (Rep. Cory Atkins)
4:50 – 5:10 – Cross-Partisan Organizing: Finding Areas of Agreement (Szelena Gray)
5:10 – 5:45 – Break-out Sessions – Corporate Influence
**Financial Industry (Pam Wilmot)
**Environmental Concerns (Terra Fredricks)
**Housing Crisis (Grace Ross)
**Military Spending (Cole Harrison)
**Immigration – Historical Perspective (Felipe Zamborlini)
**Education
**Corporate Culture
**Healthcare (MA Nurses Association)
**Agri-business (Theresa Earle)
5:45 – 6:15 – Corporate Personhood 101: A Panel Discussion (John Bonifaz, Donna Palermino and Malia Lazu)
6:15 – 6:30 – Occupy Legislation Handbook From Progressive Massachusetts (Senator Jamie Eldridge)
6:30 – 7:00 – Questions and Answers
7:00 – 7:30 – Break-out Sessions – Citizens United in Context: Money in Politics
**Communication Strategies around Money in Politics (Pam Wilmot)
**Where the Campaign Money Comes From (Patrick Frank)
**Pay to Play and the Lobbying Industry
**Supreme Court Decisions Empowering Corporations (John Hill – MTA)
**Public Financing of Elections (Jules Levine)
**Disclosure and Corporate Accountability (Judy Whipple)
**The Implications of Corporate Personhood: Pros and Cons (Donna Palermino)
7:30 – 7:35 – Closing Remarks
7:35 – 8:00 – Reception and Entertainment + Arts – Poets, Skits, end with Music

St. Paul’s Cathedral, Boston
138 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02111

From Occupy to Workers Control

Public Event · By Doug Enaa Greene

Friday
6:00pm until 8:00pm

Join Immanuel Ness and Elaine Bernard for a panel discussion on From Occupy to Workers Control sponsored by the Howard Zinn Memorial Lecture Series and Encuentro 5.

The Occupy Movement is taking new and exciting steps as it continues to reshape political possibilities (such as reclaiming foreclosed homes).

The discussion of how to organize a society that represents the interests and aspirations of the 99% is a debate that is being held across Occupy sites.

What would it mean to really take the Occupy Movement into the workplace? Into the heart of the economic system itself? And how to do it?

Join us on Jan. 20 at 6 pm for two of the contributors to the book, Ours to Master and to Own: Workers’ Control from the Commune to the Present (Immanuel Ness and Elaine Bernard).

encuentro 5
33 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA

Occupy New Hampshire Media Tech Twitter Teach In
Public Event · By Ryan Glen Hirsch

Friday
6:30am until 8:00pm

Ryan will be doing a media tech teach in on how to set up a twitter account, link it to your phone, and tweet by sending a text message from any mobile phone with texting enabled.

Autumn will be teaching people how to use the occupy nh google calendar to add events.

If we have extra time and anyone wants to learn and has a smart phone or laptop, we will go over live streaming video.

please bring your laptops and cell phones. we will be setting up twitter accounts, and tweeting one thing by text message. I have a phone with 4G hotspot capabilities so we will have internet. so bring your laptops and connect to help set up accounts quicker.

thank you.

Greg’s Place
641 Elm St, Manchester, NH 03101-2510

Corporate Money Out of Politics Rally!
Public Event · By WolfPac New Hampshire

Saturday
1:00pm until 4:00pm

The Statehouse: Concord, New Hampshire, 107 N. Main St.

This is not a Democratic or Republican issue, both of our political parties have completely sold us out. If you don’t think that corporations should be able to buy our politicians and thus our Democracy then we need YOU to show up at the Statehouse on Jan. 21! We are not against corporations at all, we just don’t want them to be able to buy our Democracy anymore.

We need to pressure our State Representatives into calling for a Constitutional Convention with the purpose of passing an amendment to end corporate personhood. This issue is the root cause of all other problems in this country and we need LOTS of people to show up with signs protesting corporate money in politics. Or if you don’t want to bring a sign just come and hang out, you’re guaranteed to meet some interesting people from all over New Hampshire!

We chose this date because it is the anniversary of the awful “Citizens United” court case allowing unlimited amounts of money to pour into our political campaigns from both domestic and foreign corporations. This is the first step of our plan, let’s show them we are paying attention!! Please click on the Invite button at the top of this page and invite all of your friends!! We need EVERYONE to attend this rally; firemen, teachers, small business owners, farmers, athletes, techies, male, female, young and old! We are ALL affected by this and I Believe we are going to save our Democracy but it’s going to take a little effort, see you there!

*Suggestions for signs if you want to bring them, we should stay on message, this a very focused rally: “Amendment to End Corporate Personhood” “Corporate Money out of Politics”

Corporate Personhood, Campaign Finance Reform and Move to Amend

Saturday
1:00pm until 4:00pm

On January 21, 2010, with its ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court ruled that corporations are persons and opened the flood gates for corporate control of elections. Please join the Social Justice Committee of UU of Haverhill on Saturday January 21st on the second anniversary of this ruling to discuss the role of money in politics, how we can help to change the campaign finance and be a part of the movement to amend the constitution across the country. We will first view Harvard University Professor Lawrence Lessig’s lecture (50 minutes) on “How Money Corrupts Congress and a Plan to Stop it” from his book “Republic, Lost” followed by discussion and action on Move to Amend and Campaign Finance Reform proposals.

Universalist Unitarian Church
15 Kenoza Ave, Haverhill, MA 01830

MORE TO BE POSTED AS THEY COME IN.

Occupy Events coming up

Here are some events coming up this week:

January 19th is “anti labor day” at the state house. 7 bills are being pushed to undermine worker’s rights in NH including one to end collective bargaining.
January 21st marks the anniversary of Citizen’s United. Please watch this powerful documentary seen at the end of the message. There are a few events I found in both NH and MASS. Here’s what we have so far:

Tuesday January 17th : Occupy Congress. Some members of ONH are on their way to SC with others from OWS and Boston to help SC with staging events. Watch this inspiring video about the thousands of Occupiers around the country attending the DC event.

The website is: www.occupyyourcongress.info

Tuesday January 17th –Friday January 20th:
So you can’t get to DC? Occupy the Congress by Phone. Here are the details. www.facebook.com/events/254314681306829/
Or www.contactingthecongress.org

Thursday January 18th: Grass Roots Action Day to Protect the Middle Class! 8:00-4:00
Legislative Office Bldg. 4 Park St. Room 302 Concord, NH

www.facebook.com/events/357724444254000/

info@protectnhfamilies.org

Saturday January 21st : Corporate Personhood and Campaign Finance Reform and move to amend at Haverhill MA Unitarian Universalist Church (This looks like an informational meeting).
15 Kenoza Ave, Haverhill, MA 01830 1:00-4:00
Here is a brief description. The event is hosted by the UU of Haverhill social justice committee:
Description
On January 21, 2010, with its ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court ruled that corporations are persons and opened the flood gates for corporate control of elections. Please join the Social Justice Committee of UU of Haverhill on Saturday January 21st on the second anniversary of this ruling to discuss the role of money in politics, how we can help to change the campaign finance and be a part of the movement to amend the constitution across the country. We will first view Harvard University Professor Lawrence Lessig’s lecture (50 minutes) on “How Money Corrupts Congress and a Plan to Stop it” from his book “Republic, Lost” followed by discussion and action on Move to Amend and Campaign Finance Reform proposals.

www.facebook.com/events/316993398323699/

Saturday January 21st:Corporate Money out of politics Rally! 1:00-4:00 at the NH State House Concord, New Hampshire, 107 N. Main St

www.facebook.com/events/110989872351571/

Here is a great documentary video from “The Watchman”

embedr.com/playlist/the-corporation_3

#J15 Occupy Nashua Event

Facebook Event Page
Occupy Dover NH Event Page
List of Vigils Across the Globe 

2011 was the year of protests and democratic energies being reawaken on our streets. On his birthday and in the spirit of Dr. King’s vision for racial and economic equality, peace, and non-violence, we are holding candlelight vigils to unite our world in a global movement for systemic change.

Wherever we may be, whether in our homes, in city squares, online, Occupies, or at work, we lift a beautiful message high above the political dialogue. We light the dream of a more equitable world in our hearts. We can overcome!

Dr. King said “A true revolution of values will soon look uneasily on the glaring contrast of poverty and wealth. With righteous indignation, it will look across the seas and say: ‘This is not just.’ ”

Vigils are being organized around the world — from California to Cairo, New York to London, Germany to Nova Scotia. Pete Seeger, K’naan, Ramy Essam, Sol Guy, Joan Baez, Steve Earle and many more have committed their support.

We gather to empower a great and global dream, a dream we have all dreamt of for thousands of years. A dream of a world without poverty, brazen authoritarianism, cynical bureaucrats posing as our representatives, barons of industry taking our labour and calling it their “hard work” and giving us peanuts, and most of all, we dream of a society without borders in which the right of sovereignty lies with the people across communities. We will settle for nothing short of Democracy.

Occupy the New Hampshire Primary

You can find most of the event’s information in these links and this post. If you still have questions, email occupynh@gmail.com or info@occupynashua.org

Occupy the NH Primary Statewide Planning GA Facebook Event

Occupy the New Hampshire Primary Facebook Event Page

Occupy NH Primary Medical/ Security Team working group Facebook

Occupy the NH Primary Needs List

Providing Bathroom Facilities Discussion

Satellite Photo of Veterans Park

Downtown Parking Map

Occupy the New Hampshire Primary Press Release

Tips For Staying Warm In Cold Weather

Friday, January 6, 2012 at 6:00pm until Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 9:00pm

From January 6th to January 10th, Occupy NH invites you to “Occupy the Presidential Primary” — First in the Nation’s History.

Occupy the NH Primary will address growing economic inequality and the disproportionate economic and political power of corporate America and the wealthiest 1%. We want to highlight our concerns that the candidates and media ignore.

Events include marches, debates, street theater, workshops, and entertainment. Occupy groups in NH and throughout the region are encouraged to reserve a 2-hour block for their own event.

We’d ask all other Occupations that will be coming to these events to bring their signs. We would love to see your artwork displayed in our great state!

There will be other Occupy Events in the Granite State going on in different regions. The locations, dates, times and links are soon to follow and will be posted here:

Facebook Event Page

Occupy the New Hampshire Primary Flyer – Print ‘em out. Hang ‘em up.

USTREAM.TV Account (occupynhmedia) Live Broadcast during Events

Needs Planning Forum

Medical/Security Workgroup

Location:

Schedule: (all events located at Veterans Park in Manchester unless otherwise noted)

Friday January 6th
5:00 PM: Welcome
6:30 PM: Dan Bernard Music and Entertainment
7:30 PM: Teach-In “Bird-Dogging Political Candidates” (Arnie Alpert and Olivia Zink) / Film “Bullied” (Marianne O’Connor) Both will be held at the UU church at 669 Union St.

Saturday January 7th
9:00 AM: ”Occupying Small Towns” (Occupy Keene)
10:00 AM: “Cost of US Foreign Policy” (Veterans for Peace)
11:00 AM: “Politics” a lecture by Mark Twain (Ed Helm)
1:00 PM: Lecture “How to Build a Strong Movement” (Occupy Wall Street)
2:30 PM: Gay Pride Rally from Veteran’s to Victory (Occupy Nashua) www.facebook.com/events/281180708599133/
5:00 PM: General Assembly
7:00 PM: Funeral Procession for the American Dream at St. Anselm College during the primary debate. Please wear “mourning attire,” if possible. (Occupy Manchester)

Sunday January 8th
9:00 AM: Direct Action (Occupy Manchester)
11:00 AM: TBA (Occupy Maine)
1:00 PM: Direct Action of Awesomeness (Occupy Worcester)
3:00 PM: TBA (Occupy Conway)
4:00 PM: Drum Circle
5:00 PM: General Assembly
7:00 PM: Film “Inside Job” at the UU church 669 Union Street

Monday January 9th
9:00 AM: Street Theater “Bank Transfer” (Occupy Manchester)
11:00 AM: “Marriage to a Corporation” (Occupy Manchester)
1:00 PM: ”How to Build Efficient, Renewable Energy Systems.” (Roy Morrison)
3:00 PM: TBA (Occupy Concord)
5:00 PM: General Assembly
7:00 PM: Open

Tuesday January 10th (Primary Day)
9:00 AM: Open
11:00 AM: ”History of Labor” (IWW)
1:00 PM: NH Healthcare Now
3:00 PM: Flash Mob (Occupy Boston)
4:30 PM—8:30 (END) Occupy NH Wins the Primary!
Occupy NH will convene at MacNeil’s Banquet Facility for Victory Party.
The McNeil’s have offered their banquet room to Occupy NH without charge. We have to bring our own food. We can potluck, order BBQ from KC’s rib shack, etc.
Bring some $$ for beer/wine/soda.
Address is 837 Second St., Manchester, NH.

All open spaces are available to claim. Send requests to Katie at Occupythenhprimary@gmail.com. See you at Veteran’s Park on Elm St, January 6th, 5:00pm.