I always thought that it was a problem for the Occupy Movement to begin in late summer (2011) and then basically close up shop as fall turned to winter. Demonstrations like those of Occupy Movement are more what we would call \u201cfair weather sports.\u201d It takes a great deal for a person to camp out in an urban center under the best of circumstances, and only the real pioneers among us can endure the hardships of winter camping.<\/p>\n
Since the movement began, there has not been a massive flow of money from the very wealthy to poor and middle income citizens. If economic conditions have gotten better for those who were suffering in late 2011, it is primarily due to the \u201crising tide lifts all ships\u201d phenomenon. The wealthy seem to have their status in our society well established, maintaining their so-called fair shares of the income and wealth pies.<\/p>\n
I recently read a critique of the Occupy Movement, suggesting that what the movement lacked was a clear and definable goal. I\u2019m not sure that I thoroughly agree with that contention. But if organizers were looking for an issue that is clear, definable, concrete and outrageous, they might want to focus on the way professional sports barons in America and the players who do the heavy lifting for them systematically screw communities in need all across America.<\/p>\n
Nearly twenty years ago, the civic and state leaders of St. Louis, Missouri ponied with hundreds of millions of dollars to lure the Los Angeles Rams football team from the West Coast to the Midwest. It may seem odd, an aging rust-belt city like St. Louis out-bidding a fast and furious metropolitan area like Los Angeles, but the situation was complicated. St. Louis private financiers\u00a0 who were willing to underwrite what Los Angeles\u2019 leaders would not. The state of Missouri had fewer obligations than the state of California, and so the situation was ripe for Los Angeles\u2019 loss to be St. Louis\u2019 gain.<\/p>\n