Cockle-Doodle-Doo - Up Your's Wall Street

I’m such a chicken – cluck cluck. I strut and I bluster and I crow at dawn. But when the farmer arrives with his ax I run. Most of us do the same. Most of us are content to peck at the grain that has been cast about the barnyard. Maybe occasionally locate some worm or find a juicy grub in a pile of manure. Only we call it paying the morguage or filling the tank. I’m against this and I’m against that, but when it comes to crossing the barricades I hesitate.

A permit to march had been requested and provisionally authorized by the city but its final authorization was up to the police. They refused to authorize it. No money for overtime was being profered. Money on top of the table is not a bribe – not in this country any way. We were warned to march in the street was to be subject to arrest – Remember we were told there are children present (there was even some dogs). But we did it anyway. “What does Democracy Look Like?” “This is What Democracy Looks Like.” “The First Admenment is Our Permit!” I’m proud of myself. I didn’t take one step on the sidewalk. Ho ho. Here’s to me. A slap on my back. Arrests had been made at previous demonstration. I myself have been arrested before, said the man at the microphone.  None were made this time.

It’s always the same; what price will you pay for a world of your choosing. Many chose  not to march under these circumstances - about five hundred proceeded into the streets, myself included.  Oh you don’t have to agree the signs that they carry or the slogans that they shout. I disagreed with most of them. I thought many were way too naïve (but you can't make a philosophical argument on a placard). Their solutions simplistic and unjrealistic.  But you have to start somewhere and this is really about process and education anyway. This can only get louder and lounder. “Whose Streets?” “Our Streets!” We kept a lane open and assisted traffic to get by. The police went roaring by with lights flashing as we set out. They stopped but there were not scuffles. I expected to march into barricade any any moment. But there was none.  We never saw them again. They left us alone, afterall we were only marching into the gehtto (a large area so Section Eight housing to be exact). The idea I think was we were too white.  Cocka-doodle-doo. What price am I willing to pay. Let's get this straight – democracy is not about representation or lack thereof. I don't give a damn about Wall Street.

Here how we make decisions - if you like the idea, raise your hand and wiggle your fingers. Now try it. And we did. If you don't like the idea lower your hands downward and wiggle your fingers. Now try that. And we did. If you are indifferent, stick your hands out and wiggle your fingers. Now shall we march in the street anyway? Hundreds of hands went up and thousands of fingers wiggled. Shall we restrict the march to the sidewalk? Some hand went up. I declare that it was ninth-nine percent for. No one challenged the call.

The past is both nightmare… and a deposit of meaninglessly spent energies. Historians and artist give it shape – Guy Davenport – The Hunter Graacchus, 1996

The League of Nations was the first international institution to which non-Europeans where not excluded. Members arrived in national costume rather than Imperial uniform.

With inevitable regularity history liquefies and needs rechanneling while religions petrify, paralyzing their spirit in pedantry. The guardians of both constantly keep history from meaninglessness and religion from the death of its symbols – Guy Davenport – The Hunter Graacchus, 1996p 126

About one in five Americans earning above $75,000 a year see themselves as “Have-Nots”, while a third of Americans earning less than $30,000 see themselves as “Haves”

Driving under the influence of hubris is not yet a yellow sheet offense – William H Gass – A Temple of Texts, 2006 p14

It’s always the same – someone gets rich and someone gets sick

Everything around us is terrifying. There is no longer a common language. No one understands anyone else. I believe no one wants to understand  - Elias Canetti – The Agony File, 1994

When the rich steal from the poor it’s called business. When the poor fight back it’s called violence – Cory Rae Shaw – placard at Occupy Oakland

The bankers lobbied Washington so they could write the rules that got us into this crisis. They then lobbied Washington to get money to bail them out. And now they are lobbying Washington to write the rules so they can get us into the next crisis – Elizabeth Warren

“Irresponsibility, selfishness, behaving as  if your choices had no consequences” : it was meant to apply to working class hooligans, but can equally  apply to the elite.

The satirist takes a man at his deed, not at his word – Guy Davenport – The Hunter Graacchus, 1996 p240

It is estimated that there may be between 1.85 million and 4.5 million closed-circuit cameras in the United Kingdom: one for every 20 residents of the  country.

He is what he is because he is never where he is – Jack Spicer – The Collected Books, 1996 p172

Today’s liberal is tomorrow’s conservative. Time passes you by.

Authentic art… accomplishes its work in silence – Marcel Proust – Tine Regained p210