I arrived early, shortly after two pm.
Parked down the street from the scheduled occupation. Gotta move the car in two hours.
There are probably a hundred folk gathered around in little circles, each with their own discussions ...especially when they're silent.
Father Nathan just passed by. Johnny is here: knew he would be. Met and chatted with some guy named Gordon.
More are arriving. Bunch of tables so far up and down the plaza, and I'm sure more to come. They're all here for the same occasion, but what's their reason? Why are teens with gauged piercings sharing space with older gentlemen and ladies, some with trinkets, instruments, signs and shirts? Three generations ...with a common thread that is not blood, yet pulsing through their veins providing the aliment for the cause.
I'm sitting across from Winston Arnow, enjoying a brilliantly welcoming, something, something day.
Conversations -- ADEP, social services, politics, greed, corporations, Rick Scott health care. We'll leave the opinions to themselves ...maybe.
"You gave my sign away, that I made this morning!?" Gordon jokingly pokes at his friend.
Johnny has bumper stickers ...$2; newsletters and mags for free. Cameras all over ...and sunglasses, hats, chairs, balloons ...even some bongos, an accordion and guitars.
"The bottom line is greed. You can't regulate greed. We can only regulate actions."
"This is where all the angry debate is going to happen!" says a white guy in sunglasses, motioning loose circles with both hands generalizing an area on the plaza steps where over a half dozen men with opinions stand and sit telling each other the facts with devout sincerity in their tones. This is also the part of the plaza where the soapbox will 'occupy.' How's that gonna go?
I hear music. Down the walk, I think someone has set up a small band. Eventually, I'll make my way back down the walk and check it out. For now, I'll watch and listen as well over a hundred (maybe two) have chosen to occupy.
Time to move the car from the '2 Hour Parking' spot. Good time to grab a bite to eat.
___________
WUWF 88.1 FM keeps me company as I drive around looking for a safe parking space within walking distance from the occupation. Even during the pledge drives I prefer listening to NPR. "Ah, here we go."
But, I digress ...
"This is not capitalism. This is not socialism. This is corporatism ...[We need to] stop looting and start prosecuting!" rallies one man on the soapbox.
"Silent no more!" another man iterates a few times, each time louder prompting the crowd to chant.
A few hundred by now, many encircling the soapbox in front of the MLK Jr. bust. It's almost 5pm.
"We have a problem with the system ...it's not working for the 99%!"
"Solidarity!"
A solidarity kaleidoscope.
Hearing conversations of varying agendas and opinions. Twice now, I've signed petitions for county commissioner ballot names. Both 'no party affiliation' which is definitely a plus, and probably intentional; Are they claiming 'no party' to appeal for numbers in a crowd emphatically fed-up with the established political arena, or are they genuinely grass-rooting and have a plan to make a difference -- that WOULD make a difference? We could only hope and wait.
Besides the obvious personal discussions people have as they find friends and meet strangers, the overwhelming congruous spirit is one of change - something all here heard a couple of years ago, but most are still waiting for. I get the feeling that they're tired of waiting ...and sick of the rhetoric. The issues of change, that at least this spirit in America has been propagating for decades, in corporatism, politics, healthcare, environmental influences and the polygamist marriages of.
"Read the Constitution. Read the Declaration of Independence ..."
I've been reading a copy of the Federalist Papers (it's a long, deep read). The same spirit, although quite muddled from over two centuries of socio-political interests and ills, that fought for a land of freedom and seceded from tyranny is here: to pursue life, liberty and happiness: to promote a protected freedom, foreign and domestic. Remembering history and engraving a platform for personal, communal, spiritual, political and economic freedom that is based on the lessons learned.
From the foundation of this nation, future generations were advised of what can come -- what WILL come if we don't protect that freedom; What to expect in opposition; Where the line between security and freedom lies. We were warned about those that thrive off of the deprivation and enslavement of the populous. Those leeches who religiously suck life from those who have little choice but to succumb to the ever-deepening avarice pool. Some of those warnings even came from slave owners.
Seeking more solid ground, and hopefully not willing to settle for just a 'less-filthy pond,' the occupiers demand a fair shake; Demand that one percent does not make a majority; Demand that corporations do not govern through their pocketbooks, but rather the people govern the institutions; Demand that those elected into office understand 'We the people' not 'I, the fat pig.'
Well, at least that's what I came away with.
It's 6:15pm ...the crowd is thinning.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
HIRE, Employment and Perjury
Last thursday, when i returned to work after a most enjoyable vacation in Denver, Co., i was informed that five employees were laid off, including myself. Half-expecting the layoffs to soon be coming, the news was not a surprise ...the timing was, but not the news. With that, my vacation got extended a few days - unplanned, but welcomed.
Generally the optimist (with a few peculiarities) ...don't panic ...open-minded and fair ...approaching each day as if it's a new or further adventure. Not to say that the inadvertent extension of my vacation didn't stress me some, i was not going to allow this unfortunate occurrence to obstruct my plans of enjoying life. i made a few notifications and gave thought to how to remedy the loss of income, including the possibility of unemployment compensation (although i loathe the thought); activities to begin the first day of the next week.
Those who know me well know how i feel about capitalism/economics, welfare, politics; Where our nation has been, where we are, and where we're going (especially if we don't clean up our act). i despise dishonesty, disrespect and greed. i am a proud Citizen of this country - i love this nation and believe in its greatness, even with it's faults. And it greatly unnerves me when citizens, groups, businesses and corporations, politicians, parties and lobbyists INTENTIONALLY misuse/abuse the system for personal, political or corporate gain, and this on the backs of anyone they see fit, most particularly the taxpayers holding this nation together. Do you see the nerve fraying yet? Our nation, and many/most other nations on this blue dot are in peril because of a virus that too many are infected with and DON'T CARE! That virus is greed.
i could go on for pages about this atmosphere, and i rather would, but i digress. What brings me to write this blog was an incident today - an example. A former employer of mine called me after hearing i was laid off to offer me some temporary work with an associate of his. In the acceptance of the work, i needed to go apply with a local temporary labor source (to be left unnamed). I was handed all the paperwork, sat down and diligently filled everything out. One of the forms did not apply to me, so i left it blank for them to use in the future with someone else who did qualify. When i handed the paperwork back in, they noted that i still needed to fill out that form. When i informed them that the form did not apply to me, it was stated that i still needed to fill it out so they can get their incentives under the HIRE Act. "I can't. That would be falsifying a document." i informed them, receiving a reply of "this is just for our records." We kept the conversation short, ending with "i'm not sure if we can hire you." A decision was made to state on the form that i refuse to sign the affidavit, signing ONLY that i refuse to fill out and sign the form.
Now, i hope, giving the benefit of the doubt, that the office personnel just did not understand what the affidavit stated (although, that is their job), and i hope they are not in the business of scamming the taxpayers. There are most likely many who have filled out this statement and signed it NOT understanding what the affidavit is for. i, for one, will not perjure myself for the sake of personal, political or corporate avarice. And i beg of all to rid themselves of such.
The form i was presented to sign is W-11 HIRE Act Employee Affidavit, in which it states "I certify that I have been unemployed or have not worked for anyone for more than 40 hours during the 60-day period ending on the date I began employment with this employer." I was laid off one week ago. The form further states "Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this affidavit and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct, and complete."
Letting the rest of you decide ...
Generally the optimist (with a few peculiarities) ...don't panic ...open-minded and fair ...approaching each day as if it's a new or further adventure. Not to say that the inadvertent extension of my vacation didn't stress me some, i was not going to allow this unfortunate occurrence to obstruct my plans of enjoying life. i made a few notifications and gave thought to how to remedy the loss of income, including the possibility of unemployment compensation (although i loathe the thought); activities to begin the first day of the next week.
Those who know me well know how i feel about capitalism/economics, welfare, politics; Where our nation has been, where we are, and where we're going (especially if we don't clean up our act). i despise dishonesty, disrespect and greed. i am a proud Citizen of this country - i love this nation and believe in its greatness, even with it's faults. And it greatly unnerves me when citizens, groups, businesses and corporations, politicians, parties and lobbyists INTENTIONALLY misuse/abuse the system for personal, political or corporate gain, and this on the backs of anyone they see fit, most particularly the taxpayers holding this nation together. Do you see the nerve fraying yet? Our nation, and many/most other nations on this blue dot are in peril because of a virus that too many are infected with and DON'T CARE! That virus is greed.
i could go on for pages about this atmosphere, and i rather would, but i digress. What brings me to write this blog was an incident today - an example. A former employer of mine called me after hearing i was laid off to offer me some temporary work with an associate of his. In the acceptance of the work, i needed to go apply with a local temporary labor source (to be left unnamed). I was handed all the paperwork, sat down and diligently filled everything out. One of the forms did not apply to me, so i left it blank for them to use in the future with someone else who did qualify. When i handed the paperwork back in, they noted that i still needed to fill out that form. When i informed them that the form did not apply to me, it was stated that i still needed to fill it out so they can get their incentives under the HIRE Act. "I can't. That would be falsifying a document." i informed them, receiving a reply of "this is just for our records." We kept the conversation short, ending with "i'm not sure if we can hire you." A decision was made to state on the form that i refuse to sign the affidavit, signing ONLY that i refuse to fill out and sign the form.
Now, i hope, giving the benefit of the doubt, that the office personnel just did not understand what the affidavit stated (although, that is their job), and i hope they are not in the business of scamming the taxpayers. There are most likely many who have filled out this statement and signed it NOT understanding what the affidavit is for. i, for one, will not perjure myself for the sake of personal, political or corporate avarice. And i beg of all to rid themselves of such.
The form i was presented to sign is W-11 HIRE Act Employee Affidavit, in which it states "I certify that I have been unemployed or have not worked for anyone for more than 40 hours during the 60-day period ending on the date I began employment with this employer." I was laid off one week ago. The form further states "Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this affidavit and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct, and complete."
Letting the rest of you decide ...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)