Here is a link to the interactive map You can plug in your zip code, and the nearest Occupy together site will be shown. SEIU is funding this fancy website work. But then, SEIU and quite a few other unions, including the Boston Labor Council have endorsed Occupy Boston.
If you happen to use facebook, go ahead and plug in the word “occupy” and then add a city. I am proud to say my native Detroit is lighting up. But then the official unemployment rate for Detroit proper is 24.7% and the “real” rate is close to 40%. That is why entire city blocks of abandoned homes have been bulldozed while the homeless and doubled-up population soars. The difference between the official unemployed rate and the ‘real’ rate is those who are, in desperation, taking any part-time job, not working in their professions, and in fact unable to meet basic expenses while working. Food pantries are now essential to that population – and 1 in 4 or 1 in 6 children in the USA – the richest nation on earth – per the census and other statistic gatherers lives in poverty. Social stability is impossible with this level of economic injustice. Per one set of statistics I came across, 1% may own 90% of actual wealth control – this too is not sustainable. Therefore, there will be major change – how that change comes will be determined by how these problems are addressed.
One thing we as democrats should pay close attention to is that the voting rates, and voting registration rates of the 18-35 year old age group may be as low as 18%, depending whom you listen to or which statistics you believe. We cannot run Town Committees for ever on the energy of the retired; for our Town Committee a commitment to recruit young families is critical.
But far too many in that age group are in the so-called lost generation of those who KNOW that they have fewer opportunities, and a lower ability to own a house, have a good job, or provide for their children then their parents have. It is this generation that are the energy, and the populating group for the Occupy protests.
Trivia – a resident of Occupy Boston or any of the other sites (someone who has a tent, sleeps there, and is spending the majority of their time entrenched/encamped) is an “Occupod”.
The Occupods I speak with do not have much faith or trust in either Democrats or Republicans, on the whole. They feel their futures are not being protected by either party – nor do they see a vision for a future they find liveable from either party. We cannot “cut” our way into a liveable, sustainable future with good jobs, good accessible health care, a safe infrastructure, and innovation from research and experimentation.
If, in addition, the erosion of civil liberties is taken into account, it is no wonder the “lost generation” has found its voice.
