Comments on: Words on the Street

By: Dave Bonta

Dave Bonta — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:47:42 +0000

In reply to Jennifer C.. Great point. Yeah, I'd heard this was the case, though I couldn't have pulled those figures out of my hat -- thanks. (Diogenes, having been an Occupant for 2500 years now, is perhaps a little set in his thinking.)

By: Dave Bonta

Dave Bonta — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:43:48 +0000

In reply to marly youmans. As if Diogenes would know! He tried putting his ear to the ground at one point, but all he heard was earthworms.

By: Jennifer C.

Jennifer C. — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:41:10 +0000

there’s a pretty interesting integration of the homeless w/ activists at most (all) occupy happenings. One DC participant estimates the crowd is about 50% homeless. They were there in the park before the protesters showed up and they are the most likely to be able to stay there indefinitely day after day… of course there are some pretty clear connections between the two: 3.5 million homeless in the US, 17.5 million empty and/or foreclosed houses. But also disconnects — a homeless activist I spoke with the other day says about 1/3 of the homeless are homeless via drug/alcohol addiction and/or mental illness, 1/3 as a lifestyle choice, and 1/3 because “bad things happen to good people” — the last third having that clear connection, 2/3 yes worth being concerned about but not so clearly linked to Occupy themes.
Nonetheless, in a way, your cartoon is incorrect; Diogenes on the street is perhaps for the first time ever, “Occupied.”

By: marly youmans

marly youmans — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:23:55 +0000

Glad to see W.o.t.s. back! Everybody needs to know W.o.t.s. happening…