The Occupy Portland movement is reaching a critical juncture. The two occupied squares are having increasing problems, with crime and drugs and stench. Someone described it as moving from the 99% to the 1%, the 1% of the population that is homeless, or mentally ill, or criminal. There are probably more than 1% of the population that are homeless/mentally ill/criminal, but I get their point.
The Occupy Movement has been instrumental in getting the country to wake up to the income inequality and corporate/banking malfeasance that has torn at our country's foundations. It has changed the conversation and I think that that is a blessing. Maybe even the saving grace for our country.
But...
A movement without an organization that can move forward, with a structure and leadership, to get ONE or TWO specific issues moving towards resolution and change, cannot succeed.
Now, our mayor, Sam Adams, has given the Portland Occupy Movement a deadline of clearing out by midnight Sunday. How will the movement handle it? Will there be violence, like there was in Berkeley, California? Will the movement shift and regroup? Die out?
And if movements like this die out or take a break for the winter months, will the conversation shift again to less important topics? I hope not. I think we need change and it is going to take hard work and sacrifice from all of us. I hope we can all pitch in and make this a better country before it gets worse.
