Puss n Boots n Anarchy

11/3/2011
By Charles Payne

"The entire world is tired of the greedy corporations controlling everything, and now is the time that people are doing something about it." Boots Riley

It was bound to happen, and so it begins today, November 2, 2011; the Occupy movement enters its anarchist phase; the phase that has been in planning all along. Today Occupy Oakland is promoting a general strike with the support of the SEIU, which is encouraging its members to participate. The idea is to cripple the city at least for one day to "show that for this one day, we can take it back if we want to" according to Boots Riley.

The main focus, in addition to corporations, will be the Port of Oakland, which is the fifth busiest in the nation. The idea is to hit them in the wallet because only the top 1% make money from corporations or enjoy the stuff that flows through our nation's ports. This insurrection and strike amount to another shakedown by the SEIU and to pure havoc by the anarchists whose hatred for the United States goes well beyond anger at corporations.

For sure there will be a lot of well-meaning people among those protesting a variety of issues, but they will make for perfect shields for the anarchists that proudly brag of infiltrating organizations such as corporations, non-profits, alternatives, and other industries to bring in money, logistics, and experience. This is the perfect place for the anarchists to make their move. Oakland has long been a hotbed of disenchantment and general frustration that has led many people and organizations to the streets over the years.

Famed author Jack London was once known as the "Boy Socialist of Oakland," but his renown for street rhetoric could never propel him to win the mayor's office. But Ron Dellums was mayor for a long time and an avowed card carrying member of the socialist party.

The Peace and Freedom Party is the socialist party at the heart of today's general strike that has been actively asking students and workers to skip their obligations to put on a show of force. Then there are the threats including this one on their website:

All banks and corporations should close down for the day or we will march on them.

When it's all said and done, the best a dream end game could provide

for these anarchists would be a pyrrhic victory. For them this is the right time to make this move as the nation is vulnerable enough to create a concentric spiral where an avalanche of disappointment, anger, frustration, and hatred gains momentum and sucks in more people-or should I say victims.

It's going to be interesting to watch these folks parade with their shoes, t-shirts, electronic devices, and snacks from publicly traded companies that have all benefited from capitalism and free markets. Of course people wearing those clothes and using those devices have benefited as well. That's the greatest part of capitalism; competition keeps stuff coming at us that's better than the last version.

This version of socialism (and don't be fooled, many of the agitators in the crowd are taking this one-step at a time and know making the leap from capitalism to communism is easier with a step-rhetorically-in between). The crazy think that the greatest threat to capitalism these days is failed socialism.

After four decades of socialism in Greece (and Spain and Portugal), capitalistic nations are being asked to step in with giant bailouts. Of course if banks outside of Greece hadn't enabled the profligate ways of Greece then this crisis could have been averted. Be that as it may, it is amazing anyone would champion socialism in America as it is clear it created a nation of tax-dodgers, with low educational standards and terrible work ethics. I guess if you're unemployed the notion of taking from others must looks appealing.

When I was a teenager growing up in Harlem, I had no problem with the idea of stealing from large department stores or government agencies, which I saw as moneymaking demons that preyed on little people. Of course I was fed, outside my home, the notion I was a victim and needed to seek revenge. That line of thought (can't call it reasoning) blurs right from wrong and legitimate misgivings with excuses for coming up short. It is also contagious and it loves company. It feeds off of company like a parasite. When it's fanned oxygen it grows more rapidly especially when the fanning comes from the White House or some phony Hollywood star making $20.0 million a movie.

In 1929 during the start of the Great Depression "Rocky Road" ice cream flavor was created in Oakland. Right now the "occupy" movement is hitting a rocky road where it can be pushed by cats looking to use trickery and deceit to upset the apple cart and usurp the power they claim to disdain- sort of like the story of Puss n Boots (I haven't seen the movie). Of course in this case Boots Riley and others that have expressed hate for corporations and contracts have a great chance to further infiltrate younger people and those that currently feel disenfranchised. I actually lived through this movie as a teenager and young adult and it's a disease that can get so deeply rooted under one's skin as to become a personal hurdle forever.

Yesterday I spoke with Ron Christie, Republican strategist, about today's strike. Ron lived in Oakland for a year and he talked wistfully about the immense effort to take that gritty blue collar town and bring it up to speed with new economic realities. He talked about how this Occupy movement and today's strike shows a general lack of respect for the people in that town striving for a better life. A lot of regular people that want to be rich or want their children to be rich are going to get sucked into some serious anti-capitalist nonsense today.

There is a lot of pressure on the Occupy movement to figure out what it wants to be and hone in on a couple of core topics. If they hate corporate profits then so be it but it's a giant mistake. If they want to promote anarchy and rip apart the foundation of the nation then it's more than a mistake, it's a threat to any recovery of heart, mind and spirit that is sorely needed in this country. Down with the Fed - I'm with you. Don't bail out banks - I'm with you. More accountability in government and the private sector - I'm with you.

Killing landlords and CEOs - I'm not with you.

Madness of Prime Minster Papandreou

As yesterday's session wore on, I began to think maybe there is something to the madness of Papandreou and his crazy call to let the people vote on what was universally assumed to be a done deal. Since trash is rotting in the street and even tax collectors are striking maybe he's throwing the ball back into the court of the public. It's one thing to riot and strike and another to have to take a real stance. Perhaps this is a way to let those sulking citizens to own the final decision. If they hate the deal then they can bail from the euro, but if they aren't ready for an even harder landing and going back to work in earnest then they will have to stick with the euro.

If they stick with the euro there will be strings attached just as there was supposed to in order to originally join the club. (Greece cooked the books to get in on the euro in the first place.)

I find it hard to believe such a vote would fail and in fact if they could hold it tomorrow it might be a stroke of genius. But it's happening in January and that means that dark cloud of doubt is back with us - big time. At the rate his party is abandoning him it's not a guarantee Papandreou will be around to find out the outcome of a vote. In fact, there might not be a government in place at all. On that note this is the kind of indecisive leadership that has haunted Greece and Europe far too long. I think Greece should bail, but they won't, so cut to the chase and as the song says "go on take the money and run."

Charles Payne
Wall Street Strategies

More Articles by Charles Payne

Payne's Perspective: We Have A Liftoff

Payne's Perspective: Another Monster Week

Payne's Perspective: Everyone's Talking About SpaceX