The 50-day point was passed, but will the Occupy Los Angeles encampment last another 50? And if not, what will cause the disbursement of more than 500 people at a given time? Will it be the city council, the cops, the fire marshal? Or will the Occupation Movement suffer from apathy or fatigue or buckle under the pressure of the elements, the lack of food and shelter during the winter?

There have been many obstacles, and there are many more on the horizon. Indications are that the public is less enamored with occupiers, polling numbers dropping to just above 30% favorable in the latest study. It is likely that this loss of support is a direct result of the violence and damage caused by a fringe of demonstrators in Oakland, aided by hostile mainstream news organizations disseminating stories that are not exactly stellar examples of journalism.

Yesterday, we saw how the Los Angeles Times had pretty much chucked any pretense of journalistic integrity with their ludicrous article quoting retailers in the neighborhood. If indeed CVS suffered $732 in losses during a time frame the Los Angeles Times failed to mention, how is anyone supposed to conclude it had anything to do with the occupation across the street?

Most of us, and I’m sure the cops as well, know that retailers have been victimized by their own personnel since the beginning of retailing. Most of their security equipment is aimed at their own employees, and for good reason. But even if the cavalier assumptions of the Times were true, it has nothing to do with Occupy Wall Street or anyone who has volunteered or contributed to the movement. That is because the message remains consistent and every day there is more evidence that middle-America and the poorest among us have ultimately paid the price for the irresponsibility, and in some cases criminal conduct, by the leaders of the world’s largest financial institutions.

Why is this so difficult to understand, or are the 1%, along with legislators and agencies assigned the task of oversight, feigning ignorance?

What we are witnessing is social upheaval on par with the movements associated with the 60’s; in fact, we are talking about some of the same issues. Our civil rights have been violated in every way imaginable. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are causing the same social strife and budgetary problems as the Vietnam fiasco. And according to surveys, Americans are fed up, angry, and more importantly, motivated, as never before.

The latest right-track/wrong-track number is astounding, only 18%. This represents an historic low-point and the reasons are no mystery. America’s institutions and leadership have failed in their most fundamental tasks, that of providing for the public good. Instead, it appears they have colluded to divest citizens of their hard-earned savings and equity; to drive them into foreclosure and bankruptcy. So we have watched as more and more American’s have exited the middle class and descended into poverty. Their homes, savings, retirement and employment put into jeopardy by irresponsible power brokers, legislators and financiers.

Of course, they are also obliged to watch the same banking executives reward themselves with seven or eight-figure bonuses financed by those who have suffered the losses they incurred. This movement was predictable; enough is enough. As we continue to face the obstacles that have been duly noted here and elsewhere, let us remain focused on that which we know to be true. America has been fleeced by the 1% in a methodical, systematic shift of capital and resources to a small fraction of the population. In their positions of power they have not been very good stewards of the public welfare or trust.

This is a simple message whether or not it is ultimately defined in a traditional manner, or unanimously approved at a General Assembly.

Stop Black Friday

(Reuters) - Target Corp. received six red-and-white Target bags full of petitions Monday signed by 190,000 people to protest stores opening for "Black Friday" sales at midnight, the morning after Thanksgiving.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/21/us-target-thanksgiving-protest...

Stop Black Friday website:

http://www.stopblackfriday.com/

Security Info Watch: http://www.securityinfowatch.com/Retail/occupy-movement-targets-black-fr...