STATE CONDUCTS LISTENING SESSION AS VERMONT WORKERS’ CENTER HITS ITS STRIDE

In a crowded hall of the Rutland Free Library, a mass of people are huddled together. They are speaking excitedly and directly on this cold Tuesday night in December. This is the health care Listening Session put on by the State to help determine how to finance the upcoming Green Mountain health care program following Governor Shumlin’s signing of the bill into law earlier this year.

Photo by Dylan Kelley

In its journey towards universally affordable health care the state is conducting these listening sessions (part educational slideshow, part discussion) in an awkward but important attempt to gauge how and from where to fund the landmark bill. “This is not the time to re-hash old arguments about the bill’s passage” said Michael Costa, Special Council for the Vermont Department of Taxes as he addressed the murmuring crowd in front of him. “This is the time to discuss how we’re planning to put all this together in time for 2013.”

After Costa’s presentation to those assembled at the library, the crowd divided into small discussion groups to talk about where from and how GMHC should be funded. While most participants eagerly (and even emphatically) engaged in constructive debate, some of those present were bitterly opposed to GMHC at the time of its passage and clearly expressed their continuing malcontent by ripping up the provided discussion materials and refusing to shake hands with other participants at the conclusion of the evening.

While billed as a “listening session” by its organizers, this evening, and others like it, are in actuality much more of a poll of those in attendance about where “the money” should come from to pay for Vermont’s bold plan to ensure affordable access to health care for all. Indeed, several legislators were seen drifting about from one group to the next, but the crux of the night was the distribution of tiny photo-copied dollar bills into various boxes labeled “Property Tax”, “Businesses”, “[Federal] Government” “State” and “Other”. Participants were asked to distribute each of their ten dollar bills into whichever box they felt most appropriate in order to pay for GMHC.

Remarkably, the big winner for the night was the box marked “other”, in which a brief description of the participants’ ideas were written on the reverse side of the bills. Disregarding the tattered pieces of paper that the previously mentioned attendee stuffed into their envelop, the most vocal participants of the night were supporters of the Vermont Workers’ Center whose familiar, and seemingly omnipresent, red “Rosie the Riveter/PUT PEOPLE FIRST” t-shirts were impossible to miss.

With the launch of the “Put People First” campaign, the VWC is championing the goal of the passage of a “People’s Budget” in Montpelier. This goal of part budget, part human rights initiative is designed to place the fulfillment of human and civil rights at the top of Montpelier’s priorities, thereby ensuring that the rest of the state’s business is arrayed to either uphold these rights or prevent their violation. A lofty goal to be sure, but one that is not so improbable as it may have seemed not so long ago.

Photo by Dylan Kelley

The global arrival of the Occupy movement, as well as its significant presence in Vermont has shone a new and powerful spotlight upon inequities and the substantial lost opportunities in the lives of working and middle class Vermonters. In addition to standing in solidarity with Occupy Burlington as well as Occupy encampments around the world, they’re also examining the dangerous situation of Vermont Yankee (a case likely to end up before the Supreme Court) as well as backing Sen. Bernie Sanders’ introduction of a Constitutional Amendment to eliminate corporate personhood in America.

How likely are these? Bernie’s bill will almost certainly fail in an increasingly corrupt Washington, but its worth noting that at their annual conference on December 10th, the VWC, in conjunction with UVM’s stellar Students Stand Up group drew as many as 500 people from across the country. The last time the VWC gather that many of its closest friends it managed to achieve the passage of a bill of Universal health care for all Vermonters at a time when the rest of the nation was mired in Washington brinkmanship and mudslinging.

If these stories from recent memory are anything to go by, and with more and more residents rising with the occasion that is piled so high with difficulty, the Vermont Workers’ Center is not only poised to become a game-changer in the name of Human Rights, not just for tiny Vermont, but for an entire nation.

Bottom of the Barrel

Occupy Burlington members march on Main Street

The Occupation is being smeared.

From it's beginning just a few months ago; to the tragic suicide in Burlington's City Hall Park; to the tearing down and destruction of the community of Liberty Plaza; there have been continual and coordinated efforts on the part of the powers that be to smear the occupiers as everything from dirty hippies, to criminals, and (now that NDAA is safely through the Senate) as would-be terrorists. The powers that be are both relentless in their struggle to defeat the Occupy Movement, and infinite in the depths of moral deficiency to which they're willing to slither.

It was no surprise a few months ago, when all of this started, that Occupiers were hearing shouts of "get a job", "take a shower", and the wide variety of other smelly slurs that have been repeatedly slung their way in numerous attempts to de-legitimize and undermine the ever-increasing population that proudly refer to themselves as "The 99 Percent". We were, after all, living outside in tents. Neither the occupiers, the slur-hurlers, nor the passive public were impressed or caught unawares at the mass media equivalent of one 3rd grader point at another and shouting "Oh yeah? Well you smell funny!"

It was no surprise when the mass media; the pundits; and the talking heads immediately pointed to the Occupy movement's lack of demands. Admit it, we all thought (and many of you out there continue to think) that the movement was a tad bit rudderless. But time and some careful research has shown that a lack of hyper-specific demands is actually effective. General demands can't be co-opted, watered down, or made to dance on the puppet string for the pretty politicians as they stoop over the macabre stage of national burlesque that they've always longed to dominate. General demands like "END CORPORATE GREED" are the contemporary descendants of "I AM MAN" that were seen across the country as civil rights protesters and activists struggled for equality and dignity. "END CORPORATE GREED", like all of the other demands that have surfaced and subsequently been criticized for being to vague and unrealistic is monumental in it's demand as well as it's force. One can't partially end corporate greed. To quote Robin Williams, this is like partially circumcising somebody. You either go all the way or you forget it.

The 99 Percent is unlikely to forget. Understanding this, the mass media, in a genuine reflection of those that write their checks and pay for their suits, continue to ham-handedly beat away on the dead horse of granite... desperately hoping, to no avail, the damn thing moves at least a little.

The Occupy movement has not been surprised by these things that have transpired. They even expected, and mischievously welcomed a few of them. There are some things however that have been a bit of a surprise. Not in recent memory have we seen the vast machine of corporate journalism so lowly conduct their business. Not in recent memory have we seen so a blatant dereliction of duty on the part of those whose very job description is to inform us about what is happening in the world around us. Not in recent memory have we seen such a flagrant disregard, amongst professionals, of the facts they were once dedicated to reporting.

In Burlington, several media outlets reported that Joshua Pfenning committed suicide after heavy alcohol consumption. This is an error. According to both eyewitness accounts as well as toxicology reports, which the well meaning journalists took it upon themselves to comment on before the tests were even run, Pfenning was NOT under the influence of alcohol at the time of his suicide.

A occupier at the vigil for Joshua Pfenning

In another story of journalistic "fairness", one media outlet reported on the "tremendous waste" of tax payer dollars that the Occupation of City Hall Park has inflicted upon the city of Burlington. During the story which aired only this week, the reported approached people on the streets of Burlington and asked "How do you feel about the outrageous waste of $9,000 that the City spent on cleaning up after the Occupiers?"

Oh, well now... so much for context. Records show that the majority of this was spent in police overtime. Police, fellow members of the 99 Percent, should never have overtime after all, that would be too expensive.

This story is looking at the tiniest possible piece of the great systemic pie. If the corporate news outlets would like to talk about tax payer waste maybe they should start talking, at long last, about the $14.5 million that mayoral candidate Miro Weinberger, loyal democrat, spent without any plans of repayment on the BTV parking garage. But hold on, that's just one candidate who made a bad decision... there's always that other guy right? Not really.

Tim Ashe, also hoping to be Burlington's next top dog, served on Burlington's Board of Finance just a few years back, during the period when that body approved of the $17 million loan to Burlington Telecom. And, as we all know, that totally worked out (FBI investigations aside). That's over $31 million wasted by just two guys who've now positioned themselves to charge headlong into the mayor's office. Go team.

A homeless protester makes an appearance at the Burlington Democratic Caucus

At the national level, Occupy Boston has been accused by the Boston Police Department of "significantly increasing drug traffic in the downtown area". Their evidence to back this up? A single arrest report in which one individual was arrested for selling medication for high blood pressure. There does appear to be some blood flow problems... but it seems to me like the BPD could use that medication more than those pesky tent-monsters.

All this goes well beyond the pot calling the kettle black. All this is frantic digging on the part of the corporate media to smear, undermine, and de-legitimize a movement that is beginning to genuinely threaten the status quo. To the 1 Percent'ers: if you continue to scrape the bottom of the barrel so vigorously you're going to get splinters under your fingernails.

Occupy Burlington Reels as Discussion on Demands and Democracy Continues in Public Consciousness

Photo: Dylan Kelley

"The landscape has changed significantly" said Burlington Chief of Police Mike Schirling, addressing a group of damp and emotionally exhausted participants of the Occupy Burlington movement. A few seconds later, an occupier burst into the room and announced that police outside were taking down tents and sealing off the entirety of Occupied City Hall Park in downtown Burlington. In seconds, much of the crowd rushed outside to the chants of "WHO'S PARK?-OUR PARK!-WHO'S CITY?-OUR CITY!"

Chief Schirling held his head in his hands. Clearly the conversation was, for the moment, over.

With the announcement by police, this weekend, that any tenting, sleeping, or camping activities City Hall Park is officially prohibited (and that such prohibitions will be strictly enforced), some occupiers and occupation supporters are expressing concern for their movement following the tragic death of Joshua Pfenning, a 35-year-old army veteran and park occupier who took his own life on Thursday afternoon.

Many of the concerns that are surfacing are the same as those that were discussed when the tents were first erected on the 28th of October. Among the concerns are the consistent and deliberate lack of specific goals, demands, and messaging on the park of occupations around the country and around the world. Sandy Baird, a professor of history politics, and law at Burlington College believes this not to be a weakness, but actually one of its primary strengths. "This movement does not seem to have specific demands. I think that's good because, in other words, it really can't be co-opted" explained Baird, "If you think of the two main criticisms that the occupiers are raising: one is to end greed. You can't end greed without ending capitalism."

Baird also commented on the particular difficulty of the Occupy movement in the United States, as opposed to the nonviolent revolutions of the Arab Spring, in regards to the absence of a specific figure or person at which to hurl its jest, "Most of the revolutions in other parts of the world have been against, I would say, real dictators. You know, Mubarek and the Arab Spring in particular." Baird further elaborated on the difficulties of the movement in the U.S.

"In this country it's harder to find who that political enemy is. In other countries it's easier because those countries don't pretend to be democracies. So in this country, the criticism I think has been mainly economic. And I think people have not aimed their criticism at also the government of the United States because the government of the United States is essentially a plutocracy. But I don't think people understand that as well about the U.S. as they do about the rest of the world."

In speaking to a variety of other occupiers and occupation supporters, (all of whom are quick to say that they can not and will not speak for the leaderless movement), the average passerby is likely to find a full spectrum of opinions, perspectives, and backgrounds. "I think we're at a stage in the movement when it's important to increase education and consciousness in order to build... big goals are essential to wide appeal. In the future I do believe that specific demands should and will be made as the people power increases" said Puja Gupta, a 28-year-old organizer in training at the Vermont Workers' Center who has supported the Burlington occupation from its earliest days and even braved frigid temperatures to sleep among the cluster of tents. "A variety of tactics are needed both within and outside the system in addition to support by the masses for the system to want to legitimize itself."

In addition supporting more specific goals as a method of increasing wider appeal for the movement, Gupta is also wary of the divisive nature of some of the movements chants, signs, and messaging. "I think thus far the 99% message has been incredibly effective in educating the masses on gross economic inequality. In order for the movement to grow it must recruit and sustain membership." Commenting on the necessity of gathering support from the entire spectrum, Gupta continued, "I believe we need the 99% and the 1% to come together a be 100% committed to systemic changes. People know what's happening and I think that shifting to more inclusive rather than divisive messaging can bring in more people." Smiling broadly, Gupta expressed unbridled enthusiasm as a rising organizer and spoke almost gleefully of the infectious nature of engaging in a rapidly growing movement. "It really is an addictive process, to be involved. Bottom line: action is necessary."

"The movement may be without a coherent message but that is what they're working towards. The slow, fair, and democratic method of generating consensus is obviously conceived in a desire for tangible solutions and a strong, unified message" was the distinctly coherent soundbite crafted by Aron Meinhardt, a 21-year-old student at Burlington College, when asked about his opinions regarding messaging and the demands of the Occupy movement. Meinhardt also noted that solutions for any problem of profound significance are always going to be more difficult to come by. "We can identify all the problems in a simple pamphlet or a sign, but to come up with realistic solutions to all these issues we'd need an entire book. We'd need volumes." Meinhardt also pointed to U.S. tradition and the right of the people to peaceably assemble as being linked to the particular discussion that has been generated by the occupation.

"I think protesting, a petition of the government for a redress of grievances, is as much of a patriotic imperative as anything else in the constitution. The occupation is like a Town Hall. It's a microcosm of democracy. It's a forum. People feel like something is wrong and it needs to be fixed, and it runs deeper than it seems, so we need to talk about it." Slightly echoing Meinhardt, Baird agrees that this move towards a more direct form of democracy and away from representative democracy is one of the critical aspects of the occupy movement. "They have established is a system of direct democracy. So that's their political goal, I think: the establishment of direct democracy. Bypassing representative government and the whole idea of a republic and instituting things like town meetings. If those were implemented we'd have a totally different society."

Though the pursuit of that different society continues in occupations around the world, the general feel about what is happening in Burlington in the wake of Pfenning's suicide remains up for debate. Sitting at the window of Muddy Waters cafe, Gupta considers the next step for Burlington's occupation. "I think what's most important is to keep morale high and to have more people involved. I think that the masses don't understand why there's no specific demands within the movement."

November 10th, 2011- Black Thursday

The following is as close to a factual recap of the events occurring on 11/10/11 in and around the Occupy Burlington movement at City Hall Park in Burlington, Vermont. This is neither commentary nor in-depth political analysis. This is merely an attempt at a faithful recap of what occurred during those difficult hours based on the information available to this reporter at the time of this writing.

- At approximately 2pm an occupier of City Hall Park allegedly took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. At least 2 other occupiers attempted resuscitate him but were unsuccessful. The occupier, known throughout the movement locally (but not immediately to this reporter who has also been occupying), was a 35 year old veteran of the United States armed forces. He is survived by a 2 year old daughter.

- Shortly after the incident investigative police arrived on the scene, cordoned off the majority of the encampment, and began forensic analysis of the tent in which the incident occurred as well as the surrounding area.

- Approximately 4pm, a reporter named Keith McGilvery of WCAX-TV interviewed and deliberately harassed an occupier by insisting to continue a line of inappropriate political questioning that the occupier was repeatedly stated she was uncomfortable with. There is informal but general agreement among the Occupy Burlington movement that McGilvery actions were a gross display of unprofessionalism and a blackening of the trade of journalism.

- 5pm, The Occupy Burlington Movement convenes a General Assembly at City Hall Park to address the events of that afternoon and express the sadness of their tragic loss as well as the outrage at the unacceptable actions of McGilvery and others representing the mass media at City Hall Park.

- Approximately 5:15pm, Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss and Chief of Police Mike Schirling announced to the Occupy Burlington movement that the 35 year old occupier had indeed passed away and informed those gathered around the fountain were they spoke that there would be a meeting at 6pm in City Hall to discuss the matter further.

- 6pm, meeting at Contois Auditorium begins between Occupy Burlington and Mayor Bob Kiss, Chief of Police Mike Schirling, and a commissioner of the Parks and Recreation Department in Burlington.

- Approximately 6:15pm, meeting is interrupted by unconfirmed announcement of the clearing/sealing off of the encampment and the sealing off of the entirety of City Hall Park. A group of occupiers immediately rush outside to intervene and 2 occupiers were quickly placed in handcuffs after questioning the police about their actions. 1 occupier was released upon the orders of the Mayor Kiss, one remained detained and was officially arrested and processed shortly afterwards. The situation reached a near boiling point when during the occupiers attempted intervention several police officers were seen loading and brandishing a variety of weapons with apparent intent of turning them on the non-violent occupiers.

As this is unfolding just beyond the walls of City Hall, Police Chief Schirling remained indoors in an attempt to continue talks with what Occupation participants and supporters had not rushed outside. "We will not be taking down or removing any tents" stated Schirling repeatedly and exhaustedly. Additionally, Schirling stated that any tents or belongings within tents may be retrieved by occupiers immediately on the condition that the tents in question be searched in advance by police investigators.

"The landscape has changed significantly" stated Schirling in response to repeated questions regarding the continuation and/or possible eviction of the occupiers and continually asked the remaining participants in Contois for deference to the police and their ongoing investigation. "My primary concern is public safety, and there is now a big question about in regards to what is happening inside opaque structures such as tents" an increasingly harried Schirling stated.

He was unable to clearly answer several questions about the continuation of the occupation of City Hall Park saying that any protest, demonstrations, and other activities may continue in the park but the continued allowance of tents in the park is now under "serious discussion" between city officials, fueling concerns the occupation will face increasingly inhospitable weather with little or no shelter.

- Approximately 10pm, Occupiers convene an additional General Assembly at the Unitarian Universalist Church at the top of Burlington's Church Street Marketplace. Most Occupiers then returned to City Hall Park for a midnight vigil for the deceased that was held in solidarity by a number of other occupations around the country including Boston.

Other events are being planned at occupations for 11/11/11 as well as the coming week around the United States and around the world as the Occupy movement mourns in solidarity with Burlington, Vermont.

Let Fly!

The following is an interview with Sandy Baird, director of Vermont Institute for Civic Engagement and professor of Law and History at Burlington College.

Dylan Kelley: So first, state you name and who you are.

Sandy Baird: I'm Sandy Baird and I'm an instructor at Burlington College where I teach history, politics, and law; I'm also a lawyer and I've been so for a very long time.

DK: I'd like to ask you about the Occupy Wall St movement and what it means in your opinion, in terms of the United States and the rest of the world in general.

SB: I think that the Wall St occupation and also the one in Burlington is a revolutionary movement among young people in particular but also people who are older and even my age who recognize that this society is in a real crisis financially, politically, and culturally who are demanding radical change. I don't think that these occupations can be co-opted by the government or by politics or politicians because the demand's imply a new society and so I see this as a very hopeful sign of a real critique of capitalism as well as The Government which I see as a government of the rich that has been completely taken away from the people.

DK: And how in your opinion has this movement been able to grow so huge? There have been a lot of protests that have been limited to one city; one state; or one country. What do you think it is about Occupy Wall St that has turned it into a global movement?

SB: I think one of the things is the dynamic of capitalism itself which also became in the past 20 or 30 years an international movement, and so all over the world people are experiencing the same hardships that this kind of global capitalism has produced which is unemployment, huge unemployment. I was reading the other day that 41 percent of Spanish youth between 24 and 30 are unemployed. How can that be!? And it's not only in Spain, it really started in Greece a lot, it started in the Arab world; all young people, pretty highly educated young people, but now they all have no future and that has occurred throughout the world. That's what I think is at the base of it including in the United States where unemployment isn't that high but it will be and it's pretty high anyway. Real unemployment in this country is probably at 30 percent. But it's also young people who have huge economic debt from going to college these young people are very highly informed and very highly trained, but as far as I can see they have no real future. That's what they're protesting about. However there's a political element of it as well. Most of the revolutions in other parts of the world have been against, I would say, real dictators. You know, Mubarek and the Arab Spring in particular. In this country it's harder to find who that political enemy is. In other countries it's easier because those countries don't pretend to be democracies. So in this country, the criticism I think has been mainly economic. And I think people have not aimed their criticism at also the government of the United States because the government of the United States is essentially a plutocracy. But I don't think people understand that as well about the U.S. as they do about the rest of the world.

DK: Do you feel that this movement is different from those that happened during the 60's and 70's regarding Vietnam or even what was happening in the 30's with the Hoovervilles and the Bonus Army March? Do you feel that this movement is something that could go further than something before?

SB: Yes I do. And I'm hopeful that it will. And the reason is that this movement does not seem to have specific demands. I think that's good because, in other words, it really can't be co-opted. If you think of the two main criticisms that the occupiers are raising: one is to end greed. You can't end greed without ending capitalism. And the second is, not that they've said it as much but what they have established is a system of direct democracy. So that's their political goal, I think: the establishment of direct democracy. Bypassing representative government and the whole idea of a republic and instituting things like town meetings. If those were implemented we'd have a totally different society: An end to capitalism, an end to representative democracy and it's replacement by direct democracy.

Something is Happening

“Something is happening in America” seems to be one of the oft-quoted but unofficial slogans for what is taking place in the form of protests, rallies, and demonstrations that have been taking place around our state and around the world. Cynics may call this typical political theater; another attempt to attract attention to one candidate or another as we slog our way through yet another agonizing series of campaigns.

“Something is happening in America” is the call that has been sounded by Republicans and Democrats alike, mostly as a repetitious call for donations to increasingly corrupt candidates. They call upon ordinary citizens (those who can least afford corruption, let alone give their cash and their vote for such a candidate) to help further “the cause” as articulated by party politics. In public, the politicians gleefully gather $5 bills from grandmothers, college students, and all those in between. In private, they hungrily devour millions upon millions of dollars in donations with a well polished (and trademarked) wink and smile in the full and complete understanding that their turn to scratch the proverbial back is just around the corner.

“Something is happening in America” has also been sounded with alarm and perfectly intoned concern by our corporate media and their pathetic excuses for journalism and investigation. With few exceptions, the major newsgathering organizations of our state; our country; and our world are wholly and willingly in dereliction of duty as journalists. An obligation to the facts and a loyalty only to its citizens have long been the pillars of a free press as well as that of a free and well-functioning society. The actions of the corporate press have placed these pillars under such profound, repeated, and hammering abuse that the hallowed architecture of democracy has developed alarming cracks and fissures that, if left unchecked, could soon topple the great ideas that have long supported us.

Yet, “something is happening in America” is also being heard beyond the halls of power and the corridors of corruption. It is being whispered excitedly and in hushed tones by people across the world. Some have said that the America people are finally waking up. While this may seem accurate on its face, the reality is, reassuringly, much more nuanced than such a slogan. People have known for years that “things are bad” and that, until recently, things are likely to get worse before they get better. In a time when the cost of living has steadily risen, the effective income for working Americans has remained heart-stoppingly stagnant. This is no mystery to the people.

We have long been aware of the thinning of our dreams. The American people have indeed been awake for some time. The great difference now is that we are refusing to continue lying down.

“Something is happening in America” because the people, inspired by events as close to home as City Hall and as far afield as Tunisia have once again that the vast majority cannot and will not continue to be oppressed by a ruling minority no matter how brutal; powerful; or oppressive. This “something” that is happening in America is neither new nor mysterious. This something, though encouraged by social media; telecommunications; and a savvy understanding of the mass media is not a product of these factors. This something that is happening is not merely a stunt or an unruly mob of smelly hippies. This something is not (no matter how much they try) the tool of, for, or against any particular political campaign.

This is something different. Those who occupy Wall St (and over a thousand other cities around the world) are now at last refusing to lie down any longer as monstrous institutions barrel over them. Many politicians are citing the recent recession as the reason for this movement. Yet, in talking to those who’ve been there as well as those who’ve participated in events closer to home, one is likely to find that those most affected, those most involved, and those who’ve been struggling the most will say “We feel like we’ve been in recession all our lives.”

In a time when teachers search vending machines for spare change; when students as well as parents are forced to eat Ramen noodles for dinner every night; when thousands upon thousands are forced from their homes in a single night with little chance of making successful return, the people have decided that everything must change and in so making that decision now have changed everything.

Something is indeed happening in America. It is happening in over a thousand cities and countless classrooms, living rooms, and kitchen tables around the world. Something is happening… and odds are good that its happening at a much deeper level than most will (or can) guess.

Opening Salvo

Image Courtesy of Engines of Our Ingenuity.

Greetings to everybody out there at the end of the interconnected tangle of fiber optic cables, optic nerves, and neurons.

This post marks the inaugural posting of what I hope to be an ongoing project in old-fashioned nitty-gritty journalism, investigative reporting, and commentary regarding the vast complexities of our ever accelerating world. One hundred years ago such an opening salvo would be set with metal type and run through a printing press that hissed and clacked at the bite of every word. Now the world has changed and the promise of Gutenberg seems to be burning brighter than ever... if we can keep it.

You may be wondering who in fact is this person that is unleashing this Fusillade of information and ideas. My name is Dylan Kelley, I am a triple major in Photography, Documentary Studies, and Media Activism at Burlington College in Burlington Vermont. I am essentially a storyteller about real things, real people, and real ideas. These are the ideas that drive us forward and I am as excited as ever to be exploring them with whomever decides to journey with me.

Conventional journalism is in a state of crises.

Prepare for incoming.