A bit much
Tuesday, Oct 20, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a blast e-mail…
Throughout history, oppressed peoples have used non-violent direct action and civil disobedience to win liberation. The Civil Rights movement in the U.S., under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the struggle for Indian independence, led by Mahatma Gandhi, come immediately to mind. Indeed, what Paul the Apostle called “a great cloud of witnesses” – too many to name here – has fought throughout the ages for justice for the oppressed and marginalized, despite great risk, persecution, and even death.
Wow.
They must be gearing up for some major action.
* The pitch…
Inspired by this cloud of witnesses, Moral Mondays Illinois will hold its 9th mass demonstration and civil disobedience to demand that Illinois tax corporations and the rich to fix the budget deficit instead of making deadly cuts to Illinois’ most vulnerable people:
Moral Mondays Illinois Returns
Monday, November 2, 2015
10:30 am SHARP at the Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph St.
(At 10:45 we’ll march to an undisclosed location, so don’t be late.)
After a brief rally, we will march to a center of tremendous power and wealth where 50 of our sisters and brothers will put their bodies on the line in a civil disobedience designed to shut it down! We will demand that Illinois Governor Rauner and the legislature tax corporations and the rich so that the people may live and thrive.
Sigh.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 11:46 am:
Thinks like this strike no fear in Rauner.
Rauner wants hyperbole exactly like this. It strengthens his brand to “the Rauner faithful”.
If it makes you feel better…
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 11:50 am:
Don’t get the pitchforks too quickly or anything.
- @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 11:52 am:
If they do manage to shut down “a center of tremendous power and wealth” I will be very impressed.
But, alas, I do not anticipate that I will be very impressed.
– MrJM
- Linus - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 11:54 am:
The demonstrators and Rauner agree on this much: Shutting down the JRTC!
- Streator Curmudgeon - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 11:54 am:
Well, some corporations are immoral and some are not.
But they all provide jobs, so people can “live and thrive.”
Tax them too much and they look for another place to do business, which means less thriving for all of us.
Part of this budget impasse is about unions, so workers do not have to try to live on minimum wage and under mean working conditions. Corporations: maximum profit. Workers: Decent pay and conditions.
Government or business, it’s always been about both sides working together, not trying to destroy each other.
- Ghost - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 11:58 am:
[insert gif of talladega nights kids screaming anarchy]
actually we overtax most companies we need to rework our corp tax by removing the customized loop holes and reductions and apply a lower more uniform tax
- Give Me A Break - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 12:01 pm:
As long as they working on big issues, when they are done there, can they please make their way to Champaign and do something about the dumpster fire that are the Illini football and basketball programs?
- Illannoyed - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 12:06 pm:
So, they’re going to try and shut down the Apple Store on Michigan Avenue?
- Tuesday's Pizza. - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 12:09 pm:
Followed by “I need bail Tuesday.”
- Union Man - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 12:10 pm:
Corporations are taxed lower than ever before. Their net effective tax rate (avg) was less than 13%. With their low rate, our 25% reduction in income tax and you can see that has done nothing for jobs or manufacturing.
I might have to be downtown on 2 Nov
- Archiesmom - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 12:10 pm:
“a center of tremendous power and wealth” - Trump Tower?
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 12:12 pm:
I’m in! Hyperbolic-well-meaning-but-largely-ineffectual-attention-seeking-people-who-have-an-insatiable-need-to-be-validated UNITE and throw yourselves into the maw of corporate capitalism!
Let’s do this! (s/) (is that the snark sign? I’m uncertain)
- Anon. - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 12:15 pm:
We’re saved! The impasse is over!
- Tone - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 12:15 pm:
Lol, these kinds of protests are meaningless. But if it makes the protestors feel good, have fun.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 12:16 pm:
Kumbaya - African American Spiritual, enhanced by VanillaMan
Rauner’s responsible Lord, Kumbaya
He’s reprehensible Lord, Kumbaya
Takin’ it from the poor, Kumbaya
Scroogin’ it to the poor, Kumbaya
Edgar’s tryin’ Lord, Kumbaya
To talk sense to him, Kumbaya
Thompson’s bitin’ his lip, Kumbaya
Foul language trigger warnins, Kumbaya
Munger’s backin’ off, Kumbaya
Turns her head and coughs, Kumbaya
When his name’s brought up, Kumbaya
Oh Lord, Kumbaya
The Owl’s a hootin’ Lord, Kumbaya
He’s evil-rootin’ Lord, Kumbaya
His own-horn’s a tootin’ Lord, Kumbaya
Oh Lord, Kumbaya
Fitch’s downgradin’ agin, Kumbaya
Moody’s warnin’ agin, Kumbaya
There’s no mornin’ for us, Kumbaya
Oh save us, Kumbaya
- Keyser Soze - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 12:18 pm:
Wow man! This could bring Country Joe and the Fish out of retirement.
- Wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 12:26 pm:
Wouldn’t it be more practical to wish for a cleansing storm?
Lots of delusions of revolutionary grandeur going around these days.
Beats actually working the problem. That’s no fun.
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 12:31 pm:
This somewhat reminds me of the South Park episode when Tweak’s parents were worried about a new coffee shop in town. Their solution?! Have the children (thanks Chef!) release a video against corporations.
- john doe - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 12:50 pm:
Reminds me of the line:Just hand over your money and no one will be hurt.
- nixit71 - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 1:16 pm:
When the People’s Lobby talks, I’m sure someone, somewhere listens.
- Daniel Plainview - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 1:33 pm:
50 people can contact and register lots of voters in 3 years, much more effective than dramatic gestures.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 1:57 pm:
Funny stuff, Vanilla Man!
Funny and sad.
I don’t agree with shutdowns, but I agree with activism meant to protest cuts to the poor and middle class done by someone who makes tens of millions of dollars a year.
Rauner and his billionare supporters who whine about how terrible Illinois is cut safety net programs and try to smash down labor rights absolutely refuse to pay more via a millionaire surcharge or progressive income tax. That warrants protest.
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 2:07 pm:
Daniel - no kidding. My normal door knocking pace is about 100 doors in 3-3.5 hours. If you did that even just once a month, imagine how many people you talk to (or at least how much info you could leave).
- AnonymousOne - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 2:18 pm:
Won’t change a thing but it’s the only way to let off steam and make a statement if you don’t have a large, well-padded checkbook and connections……
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 2:53 pm:
OccupyJTC!
- James Knell - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 3:40 pm:
I wish I had their guts. This is why I had a four day mourning period after the election. I was pretty sure it would come to this kind of thing and probably much much worse. I’ll stick to knocking on doors, I’m just too old and tired for jail and the torment of the criminal justice madhouse.
- Curious Georgina - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 4:17 pm:
They did one last June, too. I’m guessing this one will be just about as effective.
http://progressillinois.com/posts/content/2015/06/29/moral-monday-activists-protest-rauners-proposed-budget-cuts-participate
- Eyewitness - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 5:36 pm:
Hard to find this kind of collection of old, white, totally jaded men anywhere other than almost any legislative body in this country.