Since Columbus Day a few weeks ago, protestors have set up camp in major cities all over the nation. The group of protestors in San Francisco has been organizing demonstrations every Saturday, so Drew and I decided to jump on the BART and check out what it was all about.
When we arrived in San Francisco, we walked towards the Ferry Building to see about some food. At times it was difficult to distinguish between the Occupiers and the usual weekly flea market.
SF is really happenin’ on a Saturday! Inside the Ferry Building we found a seafood spot. I had a Catfish sandwich, and Drew had some tasty looking fish tacos. [They were delicious. -Bohan]
Drew decided to blast a video. He said the Shreeve Technique™ works really well when you don’t have a tripod or a steadycam. As we ventured over into the protesters’ base camp, we saw that they were busy preparing for the march. Painting signs, finding volunteers to carry the loudspeaker system, &c.
Some guy walking by yelled at this sign painter, telling him he should use brush paint instead of spray paint so he doesn’t destroy the ozone layer. We decided to interview the sign painter.
LB: Why are you here?
David the sign painter: I want to get rid of corporate capitalism so we and our kids can have a better future.
LB: What do you think of capitalism?
David: I think we live in a deeply anti-democratic system where corporations are buying control of all the political and economic decisions and it’s hurting all of us. We don’t have the things we need. We’ve seen the largest redistribution of wealth upward in history, and you know, the only reason we have anything is because we fought for it, so it’s time for Americans to join the rest of the world and assert our democratic rights to control our own resources.
LB: You think redistribution of wealth is capitalist?
David: I mean, what’s going on right now is. It’s what some call socialism for the rich, because the rich people are taking everyone’s resources.
LB: Do you own an iPhone?
David: No.
LB: Why don’t you care about the ozone?
David: Where did you say you wanted your stencil again?
I knew he would try to paint me if I asked him that!
LB: Why are you here?
Ryan: I’m here because we’re the 99% and the 1% is representing us right now, and they aren’t doing a very good job. So I feel like we’re all trying to really just say how we feel about politics and trying to change the politics. Even though we only have one vote as individuals, we run the country as a whole, and I think it’s important to voice our opinions.
LB: What is corporate greed?
Ryan: Corporate greed is the idea of all these companies owning all the money in the country, and dosing it out to the 99% of people in small amounts and not being taxed properly. We’re not taxing the higher companies the amount that we should be. It’s really fucked up. They should be taxed more, and also there’s a war that we’re in right now, although it’s not really corporate greed, it’s really fucking up our country, and fucking up our economy.
LB: What do you think about capitalism?
Ryan: Capitalism sucks, we should all be socialists.
LB: Do you own an iPhone?
Ryan: No.
LB: Why are you here?
Melissa: We go to Biola University and we’re in the travel show class so we’re here shooting about the beauty of San Francisco. The episode we’re shooting is about big city, small budget.
LB: What do you think about capitalism?
Melissa: Oh my gosh, are you serious?
LB: Do you own an iPhone?
Melissa: No.
LB:How about police brutality?
Melissa: Where we’re from there was just a homeless guy who was killed by police. I think obviously they have to use some kind of force to get people to do what they’re supposed to do, but I don’t think they need to hit them and throw them on the floor.
LB:Why are you here?
Jean-Pierre: I’m here for lots of reasons, but mostly just to see the people come together to do something that might make a difference.
LB: What do you think of capitalism?
Jean-Pierre: Fuck Capitalism. That’s pretty much it, it’s there to exploit everyone’s loss to the gain of a few.
LB: Do you own an iPhone?
Jean Pierre: No.
LB: What do you think about police brutality aspect the demonstrators have worked into this protest?
Jean-Pierre: I like it. I like seeing different organizations come together under one common goal, and that’s what’s going to bring this movement into the future.
What is the source of the problem?
Jean Pierre: Ohh…corporations, profitization, monopoloy.
LB: Why are you here?
Brian: I’m here to participate in standing up for our rights and humanity itself.
LB: Tell me about your sign.
Brian: Un-Fuck America! That’s kinda the reality section. America’s pretty fucked up right now and it needs a good un-fucking.
LB: What do you think about capitalism?
Brian: I think it’s pretty fucked up. I like corporations, they separate the legalities and distinguish it from the workers and shareholders…separate the shareholders from the company itself, so if the company does something wrong the people can’t be charged for it. But, I think it’s fucked how corporations are given bailouts and tax breaks and all the shit that makes them as powerful as they are.
LB: Do you own an iPhone?
Brian: I do not.
LB: What do you think of police brutality?
I haven’t seen any police brutality today. I’ve seen some of them cry, and I’ve seen some of them chant with us, so I think there’s a good mix of good cops and bad cops.
LB: Why are you here?
Carlos: I’ve been interested in politics my entire life, but my personal circumstance is that I’m under crushing student loan debt. You know, the usual story of someone who tried to make things happen the right way in this ridiculous economy. If you have a problem with any part of the global society, you think the environment is getting destroyed, if you think there’s too many wars, Wall Street is ground zero of all of that. They are the orchestrators who have bought and paid for our government. We can’t afford lobbyists to go down to Washington on behalf of working people so we have to take our bodies downtown and make this happen ourselves.
LB: What do you think about capitalism?
Carlos: I haven’t made up my mind. For a long time I’ve been into social democracy, democratic socialism, things like that, but honestly if the solution ends up being some sort of resource based eco-capitalism, or some sort of democratic socialism, I don’t quite know yet. But the problem of crony-capitalism everyone can agree with. Even libertarian Ron Paul supporters who hate the idea of a central bank are here. I’m not quite sure of the solution yet, but all I’m sure of is there’s a huge problem and I love this real democratic movement that’s all inclusive like this because then we can actually hear about what kind of a society people want to live in.
LB: Do you own an iPhone?
No, I don’t even own a smart phone. I fall prey to consumerism just like everyone else, though.
-G
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