[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.00,0:00:25.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Musical intro]
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.06,0:00:36.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm Paul Levinson, and welcome to Light On Light Through, episode 87, Occupy Wall Street Chronicles, Part 1.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.03,0:00:44.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, it's Thanksgiving Day in America, that's November 24th 2011.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.07,0:00:51.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I thought this would be a good time to\Nshare with you some of the 15 blog posts
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.06,0:01:00.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I've been writing about Occupy Wall Street since the end of September and up until a few days ago.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.03,0:01:07.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And because I expect Occupy Wall Street in the United States and all over the world to continue,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.71,0:01:11.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's why I'm calling these chronicles Part One.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.10,0:01:20.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But to give you just a tiny bit of background:\Nit was back in February of this year 2011 that I first made the point
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.92,0:01:30.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the Arab Spring was really a fulfillment of Marshall McLuhan's idea that we are living in a global village.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.79,0:01:37.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,McLuhan made that point back in 1962 in the Gutenberg Galaxy, but back then,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.01,0:01:45.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was more of a prediction, a projection, a metaphor, than a description of an actual reality.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.02,0:01:53.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it seemed clear to me, in the Arab spring,\Nthat the use of mobile phones
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.07,0:02:00.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the various Facebook, Twitter and YouTube connections and apps
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.97,0:02:07.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,allowed people in Cairo and other places in the Middle East
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.04,0:02:12.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to not only help organize their events out in the street,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.75,0:02:22.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but to send videos, YouTube videos of various things that were actually happening at these events,,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.05,0:02:29.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,including some of the brutality of the government responses to these gatherings.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.85,0:02:35.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, with that in mind, I wasn't surprised at all to see the same sort of thing begin
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.99,0:02:40.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to happen here in the United States and elsewhere in the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.04,0:02:48.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Actualy, I was in Barcelona in May of this\Nyear and I saw, out on the Rambla, demonstrators
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.03,0:02:53.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- they called themselves then the May 15th\Nmovement - and it was interesting to me,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.04,0:02:59.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because Spain is a democracy. Egypt was not, still is not as a matter of fact,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.53,0:03:04.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it was much the same as the Arab Spring.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.08,0:03:12.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so, I decided to take a careful look at\Nwhat was happening in the Occupy Wall Street movements
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.06,0:03:17.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,here, in the United States, when they began to emerge in September.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.02,0:03:22.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what I am going to read to you are a series of 15 or so blog posts.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.91,0:03:29.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll mention the date that each of the post was first made, and then I'll read the post to you.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.68,0:03:39.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Each post has a headline, and that, I hope, will give you an idea of some of the perspectives
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.02,0:03:47.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that apply to Occupy Wall Street, or at least, some of my perspectives.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.03,0:03:49.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we'll begin.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.06,0:03:52.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tuesday, September 27, 2011.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.01,0:04:00.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,New York City Police disgraced themselves in brutal treatment of Wall Street protesters.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.04,0:04:08.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've lived in New York City all of my life, and I've never been a big fan of our police.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.03,0:04:13.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As a teenager, I was roughed up by cops in their search for firecrackers.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.07,0:04:19.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I saw them point blank attack protesters in the Vietnam War era.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.04,0:04:27.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I 've heard first hand, from friends I believe, about NYPD double-standard treatment of African-Americans.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.02,0:04:35.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And their shooting to death of Amadou Diallo who was unarmed, and their sodomizing of Abner Louima
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.07,0:04:39.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(two separate incidents), were beyond horrendous.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.08,0:04:47.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the NYPD have reached a new low in mass,\Ncontinuing violation of human beings and human rights
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.06,0:04:50.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in their response to the Occupy Wall\NStreet protesters.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.64,0:04:55.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are not isolated cases of cops gone crazy.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.06,0:05:04.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The tear-gassing of people behind barricades, the throwing to the ground of protesters who have no weapons and pose no threat,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.73,0:05:13.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a systematic, widespread attack on human decency, the First Amendment and its guarantee of peaceful assembly,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.92,0:05:20.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as well as on the bodies and spirits of protesters\Nexpressing their non-violent opinion.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.74,0:05:32.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Police Commissioner Kelly, in New York City, justifiably takes pride in how well the NYPD have defended New Yorkers from terrorist attacks.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.62,0:05:42.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He should also take pride in, or at very least insist upon, the NYPD defending and protecting the rights of New Yorkers
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.72,0:05:48.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and any one who visits our city to express his or her opinion.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.43,0:05:56.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Based on what has happened so far, Police Commissioner Kelly obviously does not.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.79,0:06:05.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Mayor Bloomberg should replace him with someone who can grasp the difference between a criminal and a peaceful protester,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.01,0:06:16.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between throwing a protester violently to the ground versus firmly escorting the protester off any unlawfully occupied premises.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.04,0:06:27.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Social media - or, what I call new new media - are empowering people not only in the Middle East, but all over the world, including here in America.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.02,0:06:33.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We have a right to express our critique of Wall Street and the sad pass in the economy
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.09,0:06:38.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- the financial disaster - Wall Street moguls have brought us to.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.04,0:06:49.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Mayors would be wise to respect this and restrain out-of-control police, lest the voters boot them out of office in the next election.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:49.08,0:06:53.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the Federal government would be wise to do something constructive,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:53.07,0:07:01.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and bring any police officer who violates the rights of protesters up on charges.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.07,0:07:11.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And mainstream news media - I'm talking to you, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, NBC
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.63,0:07:16.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- what is taking you so long to catch up with the sustained coverage
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.07,0:07:25.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Keith Olbermann has been giving this spectacle of police misconduct on his Countdown show on Current TV?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.29,0:07:28.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thursday, October 6, 2011
Dialogue: 0,0:07:28.62,0:07:33.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Advice to President Obama: Join Occupy Wall Street
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.20,0:07:36.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some well-meaning advice to President Obama -
Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.56,0:07:41.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Come down to Wall Street, grab a bull horn, and tell the Occupy Wall Street people
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.79,0:07:46.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,excersing their democratic rights that you're with them.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.25,0:07:50.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You have much more in common with students, workers, and people concerned about
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.36,0:07:54.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the abuses of Wall Street bankers and kindred millionaires
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.93,0:07:59.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than you do with that upper one-percent of the nation's earners.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.33,0:08:02.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You've said so yourself already, many times.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.04,0:08:10.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The rich and the Republicans who are their friends - that is friends of the 1% - are not your friends.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.26,0:08:12.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You won't get their votes anyway.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.97,0:08:21.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You won in 2008 because you got a majority of votes of the 99% of Americans who are not fabulously wealthy,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.68,0:08:28.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who do not make it difficult for so many to earn a living or support their families.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.24,0:08:32.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when you come to New York, bring along a contingent of Secret Service,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.36,0:08:39.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,FBI, or whatever it takes to keep New York's out of control police at bay.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.78,0:08:46.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Did you see those white-shirted NYPD commanders clubbing protestors on the news today?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.62,0:08:53.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,President Obama, is this the America you want?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.82,0:09:00.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You have a chance now to reclaim the momentum, to go with the tide of the future, not the past.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.40,0:09:06.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Go for it. Go with the tide of direct democracy, not the regressive reins
Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.52,0:09:14.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which have tied up our government for so long, and are starving our people of their future.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.21,0:09:20.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sunday, October 16, 2011
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.65,0:09:24.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Occupy Wall Street, Direct Democracy, and Social Media:
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.72,0:09:30.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A Thumbnail History of Media and Politics Since Ancient Athens
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.06,0:09:37.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The role of social media in triggering and facilitating the now world-wide Occupy Wall Street protests
Dialogue: 0,0:09:38.02,0:09:43.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- the role of Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Google+, and kindred systems
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.16,0:09:49.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in getting word out about Occupations, and documenting them for the world to see and join -
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.47,0:09:54.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has been remarked upon so often as to almost seem a cliche.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.20,0:10:01.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the link between social media and direct democracy is true and profound,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.49,0:10:10.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and is the current culmination of an evolution of media and political expression that began in ancient times.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:10.54,0:10:13.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Back in the city of Athens, in the time of Pericles,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.87,0:10:19.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,direct democracy arose, in part because of the new literacy
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.19,0:10:26.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that allowed citizens to be informed of public events and the views and actions of their leaders.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.41,0:10:30.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The words that these people read were handwritten,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.06,0:10:34.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which meant that anyone who wanted to write and be read could do so.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:35.09,0:10:40.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Writing and publishing were just as about as easy, in other words, as reading.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:41.62,0:10:46.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All of that changed dramatically with the invention of the printing press,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.27,0:10:50.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which had the wonderful result of spreading the written word to millions,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.92,0:10:58.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the anti-democratic effect of greatly reducing the ratio of published writers to readers.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:59.01,0:11:05.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Millions of people became accustomed to reading words written by a handful of others.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:05.42,0:11:11.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Unsurprisingly, when democracy slowly re-emerged in the Renaissance and the Age of Reason,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:12.01,0:11:16.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was not the direct democracy of Ancient Athens.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.20,0:11:24.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was instead, a representative kind of democracy, in which elected officials made all the decisions,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:24.22,0:11:30.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and all the people could do was vote the representatives up or down.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:30.22,0:11:36.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was almost exactly parallel to the transformation in information production and reception
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.26,0:11:41.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,brought about by the printing press, in which all the people could do is read
Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.08,0:11:46.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and agree or disagree with a book or manifesto or pamphlet.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:46.02,0:11:49.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The people in no way write or produce it,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:49.12,0:11:54.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,unless they were in the less than one-percent of the population
Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.39,0:12:00.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fortunate to have a monarch's or a printer's (later a publisher's) favor.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:01.22,0:12:07.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This inequality of producer and consumer – of few producers and legion consumers -
Dialogue: 0,0:12:07.96,0:12:13.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was not only continued but exacerbated by the advent of broadcast media,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:13.71,0:12:19.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which reduced the number of producers (it was much harder to get your views on radio and television
Dialogue: 0,0:12:19.86,0:12:24.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than in newspapers, which at least has letters to the editor)
Dialogue: 0,0:12:24.94,0:12:33.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and while the number of prducers were being reduced, the number of consumers were being greatly increased,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:33.90,0:12:42.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it was far easier to listen to the radio than even go out and buy a newspaper or have one delivered to your door.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:43.91,0:12:47.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People in representative democracies became better informed,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:47.99,0:12:52.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the information was created by fewer and fewer people.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:53.49,0:12:57.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In some countries, such as the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:57.18,0:13:04.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this inequality was masterfully mined to do away with democracy altogether.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.29,0:13:10.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The introduction of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube in the first decade of the 21st century
Dialogue: 0,0:13:10.83,0:13:17.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has shifted that ratio back to a more even distribution of producer and consumer
Dialogue: 0,0:13:17.61,0:13:26.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for the first time since the handwritten manuscript held sway so long ago in Ancient Athens.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:27.29,0:13:33.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These new media live online, but they were unlike other new media like Amazon and iTunes,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:33.20,0:13:41.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which still run for the most part like traditional publishing media, with few producers and many consumers.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.44,0:13:52.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In contrast, any one can Tweet, post a status on Facebook, upload a video to YouTube - any consumer can become a producer.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:52.33,0:13:59.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's why I say these new social media are not just new but "new new media".
Dialogue: 0,0:14:00.39,0:14:05.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People in the streets, demanding freedom and justice in the Arab Spring,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:05.43,0:14:10.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and redress of economic grievances in the United States, Europe, and Asia,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:10.10,0:14:19.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are the healthy and long-overdue political expression of the revolution in social or new new media.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:19.62,0:14:26.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Occupy movements are expressing a dissatisfaction with others making decisions for us
Dialogue: 0,0:14:26.66,0:14:33.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- with our elected representatives doing the bidding of banks rather than the people who elected them.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:35.06,0:14:40.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With means of expressing one's political views in almost everyone's pockets and hands,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:40.58,0:14:47.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the age of mass media and representative democracy may well be in irreversible decline,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:47.80,0:14:56.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,replaced by the more equitable system of direct democracy in which the majority not only truly rules,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:56.26,0:15:05.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in which everyone's views can get a public hearing, and everyone can vote at any and all times.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:07.08,0:15:10.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I talked about all of this a bit more and led a discussion
Dialogue: 0,0:15:10.66,0:15:18.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,after the 7 o'clock screening of Tiffany Shlain's new movie Connected, which was at the Angelika Film Center
Dialogue: 0,0:15:18.95,0:15:22.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in New York City this Wednesday, October 19.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:22.34,0:15:28.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I also discussed many of these issues on Good Day Street Talk, on Fox New York 5,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:28.52,0:15:36.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on a panel discussion taped Thursday October 20. It was broadcast the Saturday of that week.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:36.74,0:15:42.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And on Light On Light Through, I'll have links to these videos.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:48.94,0:15:55.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's LIGHTONLIGHTTHROUGHdotCom, lightonlightthrough.com.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:56.59,0:15:59.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's get on to the next post.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:59.89,0:16:03.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Friday, Oct 21, 2011
Dialogue: 0,0:16:03.94,0:16:12.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Obama Should Call in National Guard to Restrain the NYPD in Occupy Wall Street
Dialogue: 0,0:16:12.67,0:16:13.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Consider the following -
Dialogue: 0,0:16:13.62,0:16:19.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- Professor and author Cornel West was just hauled off in a police paddy wagon
Dialogue: 0,0:16:19.25,0:16:24.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,up in an Occupy Harlem protest in Mew York City.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:24.38,0:16:29.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- Professor and author Naomi Wolf was led off in hand cuffs earlier this week
Dialogue: 0,0:16:29.25,0:16:36.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when she was walking on a street deemed off-limits - a public street - by the NYPD
Dialogue: 0,0:16:36.52,0:16:44.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- and a woman seeking to close her Citibank account as part of the Occupy Wall Street protest was arrested\N
Dialogue: 0,0:16:45.99,0:16:51.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,President Obama finally announced the end of the US occupation of Iraq today.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:52.20,0:17:00.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now he should send some of our National Guard to New York City to restrain our out-of-control NYPD,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:00.59,0:17:09.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because clearly Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Kelly either can't or don't want to restrain the NYPD.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:10.24,0:17:18.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Earlier this week, we also saw the inspiring lecture that former Marine Shamar Thomas delivered to the NYPD
Dialogue: 0,0:17:19.62,0:17:28.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quote: "you're supposed to protect us, not attack us," unquote, he said. There are videos of that all over the web.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:29.15,0:17:34.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(He was not arrested, by the way - Bloomberg still has a clever sense of public relations -
Dialogue: 0,0:17:34.28,0:17:39.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he doesn't want a video of the NYPD taking into custody a former Marine.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:39.92,0:17:50.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But professors and authors and other law-abiding citizens - well hey! They and we are apparently fair game to arrest on camera.)
Dialogue: 0,0:17:51.08,0:17:53.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is becoming more clear, every day,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:53.27,0:18:00.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that what we most in New York City need protection from is our own police.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:02.46,0:18:05.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,October 26, 2011
Dialogue: 0,0:18:05.65,0:18:08.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No Expiration Date on First Amendment
Dialogue: 0,0:18:09.17,0:18:14.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm in Brussels, Belgium, to give a Keynote Address about Marshall McLuhan tomorrow.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:14.96,0:18:18.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've been enjoying the conference on the Philosophy of McLuhan,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:18.56,0:18:21.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as well as this wonderful city.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:21.91,0:18:26.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I've been following with grave concern the police aggression
Dialogue: 0,0:18:26.88,0:18:32.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,against Occupy protesters in Oakland, California, and Atlanta, Georgia.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:32.54,0:18:34.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I wanted to offer
Dialogue: 0,0:18:34.26,0:18:40.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- to police everywhere in the United States - the following point, which is:
Dialogue: 0,0:18:40.98,0:18:48.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's no limit in the First Amendment on the amount of time people can peaceably assemble
Dialogue: 0,0:18:48.10,0:18:52.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- no time after which the First Amendment doesn't apply.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:52.16,0:18:56.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,An assemblage can be an hour, a day, a year.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:56.68,0:19:03.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So when right-wingers tell you, the Occupy protesters have made their point, they should go home,
Dialogue: 0,0:19:03.18,0:19:06.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the police should make them do that, by force,
Dialogue: 0,0:19:06.38,0:19:12.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,those right-wingers are only displaying their ignorance of the law.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:12.95,0:19:20.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's ok. People are entitled to be ignorant of the law. But police and law-enforcement are not.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:20.04,0:19:26.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when police break the law, or based on ignorance of the law deprive citizens of their rights,
Dialogue: 0,0:19:27.30,0:19:31.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is a serious form of crime.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:31.79,0:19:35.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a crime that we the taxpayers are paying for.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:36.46,0:19:44.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No person with a conservative philosophy, no American, should be OK, let alone happy about that.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:45.54,0:19:53.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I call upon police everywhere to respect the law. Don't follow an illegal order by your commander.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:53.86,0:19:57.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know what the First Amendment says and doesn't say.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:57.77,0:20:05.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I again urge Obama to considering calling in the National Guard to protect Americans
Dialogue: 0,0:20:05.01,0:20:14.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,being forcibly deprived of their rights, just as Dwight David Eisenhower did bravely for people in the South
Dialogue: 0,0:20:14.36,0:20:21.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,being deprived of their rights by local authorities in the 1950s.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:22.91,0:20:26.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Saturday, October 29 2011
Dialogue: 0,0:20:26.72,0:20:29.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Into the Mind of a Conservative Bully
Dialogue: 0,0:20:30.61,0:20:33.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here’s an insight into the mind of a conservative bully
Dialogue: 0,0:20:33.49,0:20:40.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,– or maybe a glimpse of an oft-used game plan favored by unprincipled conservatives in their debates,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:40.90,0:20:45.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,online and otherwise, with the progressives at hand.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:45.90,0:20:56.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A Facebook quote “friend” unquote – I but that in quotes, because this guy is not really a friend, not even online let alone in person –
Dialogue: 0,0:20:56.96,0:21:02.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,takes issue with one of my many comments decrying the out-of-control police attack
Dialogue: 0,0:21:02.72,0:21:07.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on peaceful Occupy demonstrators out in Oakland, California.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:07.61,0:21:11.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They got just what they deserved, he says, appropriate for anyone
Dialogue: 0,0:21:11.64,0:21:14.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who defies the authorities and breaks the law.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:15.76,0:21:23.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, that's interesting, I replied. So how is it that the Mayor of Oakland – Jean Quan – issued this statement
Dialogue: 0,0:21:23.09,0:21:30.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the aftermath of the police vicious attack on the Occupy Oakland people:
Dialogue: 0,0:21:30.95,0:21:33.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And here is Jean Quan's statement:
Dialogue: 0,0:21:33.19,0:21:40.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"October 27th, 9pm -- I am deeply saddened about the outcome on Tuesday., Quan writes
Dialogue: 0,0:21:40.08,0:21:47.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was not what anyone hoped for, ultimately it was my responsibility, and I apologize for what happened.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:47.12,0:21:55.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Today I, Mayor Quan, visited Scott Olsen [this is the former Marine who bravely served in Iraq,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:55.52,0:22:01.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,shot in the head by the cops with a rubber bullet that landed him in hospital in critical condition]
Dialogue: 0,0:22:02.36,0:22:06.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But back to Quan's statement: "Today I visited Scott Olsen and his parents
Dialogue: 0,0:22:06.93,0:22:10.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I was deeply concerned about his recovery.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:10.06,0:22:13.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I hope we will keep them all in our prayers.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:14.11,0:22:20.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We have started an investigation into the use of force," Quan continues, "including tear gas, on Tuesday.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:20.70,0:22:28.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I cannot change the past, but I want to work with you to ensure that this remains peaceful moving forward."
Dialogue: 0,0:22:29.46,0:22:32.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's the end of Mayor Quan's statement.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:33.20,0:22:46.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what was the response of my “friend”, in quotes, quote friend unquote? The response was: nothing. Nada. Zilch.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:46.99,0:22:53.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After two reminders from me and three days. He’s disappeared from the argument,
Dialogue: 0,0:22:53.18,0:22:56.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,slunk back into the shadows from which he first emerged.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:57.45,0:23:03.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How many times have you seen this hit-and-run behavior, or been treated to it yourself?
Dialogue: 0,0:23:03.75,0:23:06.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A conservative makes a point that’s flagrantly wrong;
Dialogue: 0,0:23:06.78,0:23:10.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,someone calls him or her on it, and presents the fact;
Dialogue: 0,0:23:10.75,0:23:14.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the conservative exits right, with no further word.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:15.38,0:23:21.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The modus operandi of the conservative bully - I guess there may be some progressive bullies like this too
Dialogue: 0,0:23:21.74,0:23:24.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but truthfully, I haven't run into them -
Dialogue: 0,0:23:25.06,0:23:29.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, as far as I know, this is the modus operandi of the conservative bully:
Dialogue: 0,0:23:30.04,0:23:35.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,puncturing rational dialog, bringing down a discussion, whenever possible.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:35.92,0:23:39.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It would almost be funny, if it wasn’t so sad.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:39.15,0:23:43.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it shows, if ever we needed a reason,
Dialogue: 0,0:23:43.70,0:23:52.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that comments emanating from these kinds of partisans are probably best ignored.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:53.20,0:23:56.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Dialogue: 0,0:23:56.61,0:23:59.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Bank of America Bends to Will of the People
Dialogue: 0,0:24:00.21,0:24:03.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Bank of America yesterday bowed to the will of its customers,
Dialogue: 0,0:24:03.99,0:24:10.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,withdrawing its plan to charge 5 bucks a month for use of its precious debit cards.
Dialogue: 0,0:24:11.28,0:24:17.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I see this as being just one of many reversals of corporate rapaciousness and insensitivity
Dialogue: 0,0:24:17.63,0:24:20.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the new world in which we live.
Dialogue: 0,0:24:20.60,0:24:26.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a world very different from the old one, which is still in the process of ending,
Dialogue: 0,0:24:26.36,0:24:31.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in which corporations dealt out whatever they pleased to consumers.
Dialogue: 0,0:24:32.41,0:24:36.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In that old world, now being set back on its hind quarters,
Dialogue: 0,0:24:36.80,0:24:43.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people mistreated by corporations had no one to complain to other than their families and friends,
Dialogue: 0,0:24:43.89,0:24:50.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and governments which did little or nothing, and the corporations did far less.
Dialogue: 0,0:24:51.16,0:24:58.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube - social media - allow people to instantly and effectively communicate
Dialogue: 0,0:24:58.53,0:25:04.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to millions about the bad treatment they are receiving from their banks and corporate monoliths.
Dialogue: 0,0:25:04.89,0:25:12.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Abused customers no longer have to wait for a mass medium - a TV or newspaper reporter -
Dialogue: 0,0:25:12.45,0:25:15.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to deign to give their grievance coverage.
Dialogue: 0,0:25:15.75,0:25:23.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The consumers can get their own coverage via YouTube videos and Tweets that cost nothing to produce
Dialogue: 0,0:25:23.54,0:25:29.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and can be seen and read everywhere, on any smart phone or old-fashioned laptop.
Dialogue: 0,0:25:30.93,0:25:35.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Bank of America isn't the first corporation to feel this cleansing power.
Dialogue: 0,0:25:36.40,0:25:42.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Netflix earlier reversed its new, regressive polices after a torrent online complaints.
Dialogue: 0,0:25:42.73,0:25:49.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Netflix learned that online media can be used for more than selling movies and TV shows.
Dialogue: 0,0:25:50.15,0:25:54.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some big corporations think that by hiring a cool PR firm,
Dialogue: 0,0:25:54.48,0:25:58.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they can develop an effective presence in the realms of social media.
Dialogue: 0,0:25:59.33,0:26:02.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But such con jobs can be seen a mile away.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:03.38,0:26:06.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Other companies have learned that online presence
Dialogue: 0,0:26:06.47,0:26:10.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,must be accompanied by real benefits to the consumer.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:10.02,0:26:15.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Panera Bread, for example, not only offers free wi-fi in its cafes,
Dialogue: 0,0:26:15.52,0:26:21.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but gives free refills for coffee and tea, and other perks to its loyal customers.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:21.80,0:26:28.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Contrast that to Bank of America's attempt to squeeze five more dollars out of its customers.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:28.88,0:26:34.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The resurgence of direct democracy ongoing in Occupy Wall Street all over the world
Dialogue: 0,0:26:34.93,0:26:39.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is now beginning to have tangible economic consequences.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:40.19,0:26:48.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is very likely just the start of an economic revolution that will go hand-in-hand with the political.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:48.34,0:26:51.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thursday, November 10, 2011
Dialogue: 0,0:26:52.03,0:26:55.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Open Letter to Governor Jerry Brown
Dialogue: 0,0:26:55.72,0:26:57.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dear Jerry -
Dialogue: 0,0:26:57.65,0:27:03.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We met several years ago, when the Department of Communication and Media Studies at Fordham University
Dialogue: 0,0:27:03.46,0:27:05.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- of which I was then Chair -
Dialogue: 0,0:27:05.53,0:27:10.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,invited you to give one of our annual lectures about Marshall McLuhan.
Dialogue: 0,0:27:11.20,0:27:19.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You and I had the opportunity to have an excellent, wide-ranging talk about media and society, prior to your lecture.
Dialogue: 0,0:27:20.43,0:27:26.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was already an admirer of your perceptive vision and understanding of our society.
Dialogue: 0,0:27:26.74,0:27:32.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I consider our conversation one of the best I've had with anyone.
Dialogue: 0,0:27:32.17,0:27:36.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was, therefore, delighted with your re-entry into politics,
Dialogue: 0,0:27:36.25,0:27:40.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and cheered when you were again elected Governor of California,
Dialogue: 0,0:27:40.33,0:27:44.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even though I'm a New Yorker, through and through.
Dialogue: 0,0:27:45.38,0:27:51.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But with this in mind, I've been stunned to see what your police have doing in your state.
Dialogue: 0,0:27:51.38,0:27:57.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I find your lack of public response incomprehensible.
Dialogue: 0,0:27:58.08,0:28:03.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What on Earth is going on with you and the state of California?
Dialogue: 0,0:28:03.21,0:28:10.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A former Marine - an Iraq War veteran - was shot point blank in the head by a rubber bullet,
Dialogue: 0,0:28:10.10,0:28:13.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,landing him in the hospital in critical condition.
Dialogue: 0,0:28:13.60,0:28:18.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A person who dared to point a video camera at police in another protest
Dialogue: 0,0:28:18.14,0:28:22.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was shot at point blank range in the body with a rubber bullet.
Dialogue: 0,0:28:22.04,0:28:28.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just last night, I saw a video on YouTube of your police beating students
Dialogue: 0,0:28:28.02,0:28:32.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who dared to stand up for their First Amendment rights at Berkeley.
Dialogue: 0,0:28:33.68,0:28:40.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What on Earth is going on in California, and why are you doing nothing about it?
Dialogue: 0,0:28:40.53,0:28:47.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As you must know, none of the Occupy protesters in these incidents were the least bit violent.
Dialogue: 0,0:28:47.11,0:28:50.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In some cases, a few raised their voices a little.
Dialogue: 0,0:28:50.38,0:28:56.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All of this is their right under the First Amendment, to "peaceably assemble".
Dialogue: 0,0:28:57.04,0:29:03.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am surprised and deeply disturbed and saddened that you seem unwilling or unable
Dialogue: 0,0:29:03.39,0:29:07.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to use the power of your office to curb your police.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:08.16,0:29:13.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Do you think rubber bullets which send citizens to the hospital in critical condition
Dialogue: 0,0:29:13.72,0:29:18.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are a proper response to people who are assembling and raising their voices
Dialogue: 0,0:29:18.78,0:29:23.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in protest of the economic and other inequalities in this country?
Dialogue: 0,0:29:24.28,0:29:29.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Whether the police are local, or even security forces at a private institution,
Dialogue: 0,0:29:29.95,0:29:38.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this brutality is happening in your state, and, as Governor, it is your responsibility to stop that.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:39.65,0:29:44.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know you were once in a seminary, and thought of joining the priesthood.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:44.59,0:29:47.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was always glad that you brought that sensitivity,
Dialogue: 0,0:29:47.61,0:29:52.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that awareness of the human condition, to your important work in government.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:53.12,0:29:57.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our nation, your state, stand at a crossroads now.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:57.89,0:30:00.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can make s decisive difference in the outcome,
Dialogue: 0,0:30:00.98,0:30:05.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and help our nation continue on its path to a better democracy.
Dialogue: 0,0:30:06.28,0:30:13.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can become a national leader on the side of the angels and the Constitution in this.
Dialogue: 0,0:30:14.40,0:30:22.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Please stop your out of control police, before lives are lost, and you miss your chance.
Dialogue: 0,0:30:23.21,0:30:35.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I aigned this: -Paul Levinson, PhD Professor of Communication and Media Studies [Chair of Department, 2002-2008] Fordham University.
Dialogue: 0,0:30:37.15,0:30:40.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sunday, November 13, 2011
Dialogue: 0,0:30:40.40,0:30:46.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Lame CBS Broadcasts Only First Hour of Republican Foreign Policy Debate
Dialogue: 0,0:30:47.14,0:30:52.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if you were watching the Republican Presidential debate on foreign policy on CBS last night,
Dialogue: 0,0:30:52.71,0:30:55.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you were treated to its ending after the first hour,
Dialogue: 0,0:30:55.61,0:31:00.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with an announcement that the remaining half hour would be available online.
Dialogue: 0,0:31:01.50,0:31:06.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I'm all in favor of television being available online, but -
Dialogue: 0,0:31:06.83,0:31:10.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What about viewers who may not have been near their computers,
Dialogue: 0,0:31:10.15,0:31:15.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or would rather watch the debate on a screen a little larger than their smartphones?
Dialogue: 0,0:31:16.45,0:31:22.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not a Republican, and I enjoy the jokes about Republicans not having a foreign policy
Dialogue: 0,0:31:22.02,0:31:24.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as much as any non-Republican,
Dialogue: 0,0:31:24.52,0:31:29.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but CBS's decision not to broadcast the entire 90-minute debate
Dialogue: 0,0:31:29.65,0:31:35.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,strikes me as a profound disservice to our electoral process.
Dialogue: 0,0:31:35.14,0:31:43.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The truth is, Democrats, Independents, not only Republicans, were disadvantaged by CBS's decision.
Dialogue: 0,0:31:43.78,0:31:48.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's good for anyone or any political persuasion to see what the person
Dialogue: 0,0:31:48.16,0:31:57.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who will likely face Barack Obama in the 2012 election thinks about major foreign policy issues.
Dialogue: 0,0:31:57.72,0:32:06.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As Walter Lippmann pointed out way back in the 1920s, democracy is a sham when voters are uninformed.
Dialogue: 0,0:32:07.46,0:32:16.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's certainly not what William Paley thought when he took command of the fledgeling CBS radio network in the 1920s.
Dialogue: 0,0:32:16.20,0:32:21.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Coverage of all aspects of elections remained first and foremost in his network
Dialogue: 0,0:32:21.73,0:32:25.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when it added television to its roster in the 1940s.
Dialogue: 0,0:32:26.19,0:32:30.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I guess it's not surprising that CBS shows so little understanding
Dialogue: 0,0:32:30.63,0:32:33.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of current elections and what they require.
Dialogue: 0,0:32:34.27,0:32:39.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like all the mass media, CBS has shown little understanding of Occupy Wall Street,
Dialogue: 0,0:32:39.98,0:32:44.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the resurgence of direct democracy that it embodies.
Dialogue: 0,0:32:44.97,0:32:52.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,CBS is an equal opportunity abuser of representative as well as direct democracy.
Dialogue: 0,0:32:53.42,0:32:58.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what was so important that CBS had to cut short its debate coverage?
Dialogue: 0,0:32:59.04,0:33:03.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was a rerun of NCIS - one of my favorite shows on television
Dialogue: 0,0:33:03.61,0:33:13.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- but I bet Gibbs, even Gibbs, would have given the president of CBS a head-slap on Saturday night if he could.
Dialogue: 0,0:33:15.01,0:33:18.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Dialogue: 0,0:33:18.40,0:33:22.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Mayor Bloomberg's Poor Understanding of the First Amendment
Dialogue: 0,0:33:23.51,0:33:28.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is from Mayor Michael Bloomberg's statement about his clearing of Zuccotti Park
Dialogue: 0,0:33:28.60,0:33:31.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,under cover of darkness early this morning -
Dialogue: 0,0:33:32.25,0:33:37.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quote "No right is absolute and with every right comes responsibilities.
Dialogue: 0,0:33:37.87,0:33:42.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The First Amendment gives every New Yorker the right to speak out
Dialogue: 0,0:33:42.06,0:33:49.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,– but it does not give anyone the right to sleep in a park or otherwise take it over to the exclusion of others
Dialogue: 0,0:33:49.51,0:33:58.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,– nor does it permit anyone in our society to live outside the law. There is no ambiguity in the law here
Dialogue: 0,0:33:58.08,0:34:01.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,– the First Amendment protects speech
Dialogue: 0,0:34:01.58,0:34:09.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,– it does not protect the use of tents and sleeping bags to take over a public space." Unquote.
Dialogue: 0,0:34:10.76,0:34:14.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, here is where and why that is wrong -
Dialogue: 0,0:34:14.61,0:34:18.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,1. The First Amendment reads, in full,
Dialogue: 0,0:34:18.05,0:34:23.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quote:"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
Dialogue: 0,0:34:23.39,0:34:26.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
Dialogue: 0,0:34:26.45,0:34:29.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;
Dialogue: 0,0:34:29.50,0:34:32.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
Dialogue: 0,0:34:32.83,0:34:39.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." End quote - conclusion of the First Amendment.
Dialogue: 0,0:34:40.50,0:34:47.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, clearly, the right to, quote, "peaceaby to assemble," unquote, a right which is distinct from free speech,
Dialogue: 0,0:34:47.58,0:34:54.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is listed in the First Amendment as a separate right, co-equal with speech and press.
Dialogue: 0,0:34:55.42,0:34:59.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Bloomberg's statement unsurprisingly misses that.
Dialogue: 0,0:35:00.11,0:35:05.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,2. The rights in the First Amendment are indeed absolute
Dialogue: 0,0:35:05.08,0:35:12.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- "no law" - that's a quote from the First Amendment - "no law" means just that, "no law".
Dialogue: 0,0:35:12.35,0:35:15.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A law about tents not allowed in parks would be precisely
Dialogue: 0,0:35:15.93,0:35:23.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the kind of law not allowed by the First Amendment, if it gets in the way of people peaceably assembling.
Dialogue: 0,0:35:23.78,0:35:27.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,3. Although Bloomberg doesn't address this,
Dialogue: 0,0:35:27.20,0:35:33.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the 14th Amendment to our Constitution extends the restriction on Congress in the 1st Amendment
Dialogue: 0,0:35:33.26,0:35:37.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to all forms of local government in the United States.
Dialogue: 0,0:35:37.93,0:35:46.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,New York City, Oakland, California, Portland, Oregon, all the cities which have been Occupied are no exception.
Dialogue: 0,0:35:46.83,0:35:51.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,4. Bloomberg's contempt for the First Amendment is also obvious
Dialogue: 0,0:35:51.58,0:35:55.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the way the clearing of Zuccotti Park was conducted -
Dialogue: 0,0:35:55.42,0:36:00.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with media deliberately prevented from covering that news.
Dialogue: 0,0:36:01.09,0:36:06.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In that very action, Bloomberg is also flagrantly violating the First Amendment,
Dialogue: 0,0:36:06.49,0:36:11.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in this case, the freedom of press provision of the First Amendment.
Dialogue: 0,0:36:12.19,0:36:17.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In sum, Mayor Bloomberg's expressed comprehension of the First Amendment is less
Dialogue: 0,0:36:17.85,0:36:24.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than I would expect from an introductory class of students at Fordham University where I teach.
Dialogue: 0,0:36:24.83,0:36:32.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I look forward to the courts setting this misguided and dangerous billionaire Mayor straight.
Dialogue: 0,0:36:32.100,0:36:41.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For Bloomberg's complete statement, see AlterNet.org, which is a very good site.
Dialogue: 0,0:36:41.12,0:36:49.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I add this note on Nov 15, 2011: The first Judge to hear case just sided with Bloomberg,
Dialogue: 0,0:36:49.61,0:36:53.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ruling protesters have a right to speech but not to assemble in tents.
Dialogue: 0,0:36:54.52,0:36:59.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I expect this ruling to be overturned by higher courts.
Dialogue: 0,0:37:00.34,0:37:03.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Dialogue: 0,0:37:03.08,0:37:07.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Violation of First Amendment to Cover Up Violation of First Amendment
Dialogue: 0,0:37:08.23,0:37:11.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,More on what happened yesterday at Zuccotti Park -
Dialogue: 0,0:37:11.58,0:37:19.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The muzzling of media coverage, which we now know, went as far as arresting and literally pushing around reporters,
Dialogue: 0,0:37:19.25,0:37:23.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,amounts to a violation of the First Amendment (freedom of press)
Dialogue: 0,0:37:23.36,0:37:28.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to cover up a violation of the First Amendment (the right to peaceably assemble).
Dialogue: 0,0:37:29.08,0:37:35.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not surprising that Bloomberg missed this, as he appallingly indicated in his public statement
Dialogue: 0,0:37:35.17,0:37:39.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that he thinks for First Amendment protects only freedom of speech.
Dialogue: 0,0:37:39.28,0:37:45.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, as I pointed out in my last blog post, the First Amendment also quite obviously protects
Dialogue: 0,0:37:45.100,0:37:49.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,freedoms of press and peaceable assemblage
Dialogue: 0,0:37:49.12,0:37:56.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(for which, by the way, no expiration date or limitation of duration of assembly is given).
Dialogue: 0,0:37:56.77,0:38:02.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Further, since Oakland Mayor Quan admitted that the clearings of Occupy sites across the country
Dialogue: 0,0:38:02.88,0:38:07.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were coordinated in a conference call with 18 mayors,
Dialogue: 0,0:38:07.71,0:38:12.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there may be good evidence of a conspiracy, here in the United States,
Dialogue: 0,0:38:12.08,0:38:17.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,among mayors and government officials, to violate the First Amendment.
Dialogue: 0,0:38:18.25,0:38:22.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I once again call upon the Federal government to finally do something
Dialogue: 0,0:38:22.59,0:38:26.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to stop this coordinated attack on American democracy.
Dialogue: 0,0:38:27.63,0:38:32.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How about the US Attorney General investigating what those mayors did?
Dialogue: 0,0:38:32.65,0:38:38.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How about charging them with conspiracy to undermine our Constitution?
Dialogue: 0,0:38:38.92,0:38:41.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Do we live in a nation of laws,
Dialogue: 0,0:38:41.21,0:38:48.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or a nation in which government officials and police can do whatever they choose?
Dialogue: 0,0:38:48.63,0:38:51.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sunday, November 20, 2011
Dialogue: 0,0:38:52.20,0:38:58.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What OWS Has Shown Us about Bloomberg, Jerry Brown and Obama
Dialogue: 0,0:38:59.52,0:39:03.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,About Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City:
Dialogue: 0,0:39:03.48,0:39:07.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Trampled on the First Amendment freedom of peaceable assembly rights
Dialogue: 0,0:39:07.70,0:39:11.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of Occupy Wall Street protesters in Zuccotti Park;
Dialogue: 0,0:39:12.43,0:39:16.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trampled on First Amendment freedom of press rights of all New Yorkers and Americans
Dialogue: 0,0:39:16.98,0:39:22.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by banning media from his forced eviction of Zuccotti Park protesters;
Dialogue: 0,0:39:22.61,0:39:30.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has supported police beating of protesters, roughing up of journalists, arrest of protesters and journalists;
Dialogue: 0,0:39:30.15,0:39:39.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,conspired with 17 other mayors to launch nation-wide clearing of Occupy Wall Street sites in cities across America.
Dialogue: 0,0:39:40.24,0:39:45.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would not vote for Michael Bloomberg if I lived in New York City (where I work);
Dialogue: 0,0:39:45.80,0:39:49.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I will never vote for him for any other offices;
Dialogue: 0,0:39:49.65,0:39:56.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would like to see a Federal investigation into his Occupy Wall Street conduct.
Dialogue: 0,0:39:56.94,0:40:00.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,About Governor Jerry Brown of California:
Dialogue: 0,0:40:00.61,0:40:07.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Has remained silent as police in cities and campuses in California have shot rubber bullets at protesters
Dialogue: 0,0:40:07.21,0:40:13.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(one point blank at the head on an Iraq War veteran that put him in the hospital in critical condition)
Dialogue: 0,0:40:13.92,0:40:23.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and also at people with camera phones, and who used pepper spray, wantonly, with no provocation, at UC-Davis,
Dialogue: 0,0:40:23.76,0:40:28.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and has remained silent as police beat students at Berkeley.
Dialogue: 0,0:40:30.19,0:40:37.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I once admired Jerry Brown's vision and had an impressive, hour-long conversation with him at Fordham University
Dialogue: 0,0:40:37.19,0:40:42.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I was Chair of the Department of Communication and Media Studies several years ago.
Dialogue: 0,0:40:43.34,0:40:49.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I no longer admire him, to say the least, and unless he moves very quickly now
Dialogue: 0,0:40:49.90,0:40:54.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to protect the people in his state from police brutality
Dialogue: 0,0:40:54.15,0:40:59.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I will speak out against him if he runs for any office again.
Dialogue: 0,0:41:01.41,0:41:05.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,About President Barack Obama of the United States:
Dialogue: 0,0:41:05.72,0:41:09.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He has also been silent about all of the above.
Dialogue: 0,0:41:09.48,0:41:15.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I voted for him in 2008, and I wrote and spoke out in his favor many times.
Dialogue: 0,0:41:15.68,0:41:19.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just search for Paul Levinson and Barack Obama on Google,
Dialogue: 0,0:41:19.08,0:41:22.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you'll see the dozens and dozens of blog posts.
Dialogue: 0,0:41:23.11,0:41:29.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,President Obama's silence about the above attacks on Americans exercising their First Amendment rights
Dialogue: 0,0:41:30.11,0:41:39.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is making me begin to wonder if I will ever be able to vote for him again.
Dialogue: 0,0:41:40.61,0:41:43.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sunday, November 20, 2011
Dialogue: 0,0:41:43.55,0:41:50.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Jay Carney (and Obama) Have It All Wrong about Police and Occupy Wall Street
Dialogue: 0,0:41:50.53,0:41:56.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Did you catch this statement the other day from White House Press Secretary Jay Carney?
Dialogue: 0,0:41:58.30,0:42:02.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is a quote from an online source:
Dialogue: 0,0:42:03.60,0:42:09.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Speaking November 15 aboard Air Force One, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said:
Dialogue: 0,0:42:09.60,0:42:14.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,quote: “The president’s position is that obviously every municipality
Dialogue: 0,0:42:14.60,0:42:20.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has to make its own decisions about how to handle these issues.” Unquote -
Dialogue: 0,0:42:20.30,0:42:22.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"these issues" being Occupy Wall Street"
Dialogue: 0,0:42:23.17,0:42:27.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Carney was seeking, in that statement, to debunk questions about
Dialogue: 0,0:42:27.12,0:42:31.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether the Federal government is in some way coordinating
Dialogue: 0,0:42:31.08,0:42:37.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the police crackdowns on Occupy Wall Street protests across the country this past week.
Dialogue: 0,0:42:37.93,0:42:43.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(We already know that the Mayors of New York, Oakland, and 16 other American cities
Dialogue: 0,0:42:43.32,0:42:48.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,coordinated their unconstitutional attacks on the protesters.)
Dialogue: 0,0:42:49.19,0:42:56.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But Carney's statement also says something quite important - crucial - that he likely did not intend to say.
Dialogue: 0,0:42:56.68,0:43:03.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that is: allowing municipalities to make their own decisions regarding the protesters
Dialogue: 0,0:43:03.65,0:43:10.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is not an expression of innocence, but an admission of guilt, when what the cities are doing
Dialogue: 0,0:43:10.76,0:43:16.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is pepper-spraying the protesters, arresting and beating protesters as well as reporters,
Dialogue: 0,0:43:16.67,0:43:24.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and (in the case of New York City) deliberately shutting off the eviction of Zuccotti Park from press coverage.
Dialogue: 0,0:43:25.07,0:43:30.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The First Amendment guarantees citizens the right to peaceably assemble.
Dialogue: 0,0:43:30.08,0:43:31.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The First Amendment says:
Dialogue: 0,0:43:31.97,0:43:37.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,quote: "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;
Dialogue: 0,0:43:37.15,0:43:41.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or the right of the people peaceably to assemble," Unquote.
Dialogue: 0,0:43:41.01,0:43:49.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the Fourteenth Amendment extends that restriction to all levels of government, including municipalities.
Dialogue: 0,0:43:49.90,0:43:57.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So in leaving decisions about how to respond to Occupy Wall Street protests to municipalities,
Dialogue: 0,0:43:57.66,0:44:04.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Obama administration is plainly shirking its responsibility to make sure
Dialogue: 0,0:44:04.86,0:44:10.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,no local government violates the First Amendment rights of citizens -
Dialogue: 0,0:44:11.37,0:44:16.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by allowing them to be viciously attacked by police, pepper-sprayed
Dialogue: 0,0:44:16.75,0:44:22.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and by preventing the media from fully reporting these violations to the people.
Dialogue: 0,0:44:22.53,0:44:28.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank goodness that someone was there with a video app on a cellphone
Dialogue: 0,0:44:28.66,0:44:37.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and was able to show the world what those criminal police out at the UC-Davis were doing to the protesters.
Dialogue: 0,0:44:39.28,0:44:49.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Obama's administration and its inability or not wanting to do anything about this is shameful
Dialogue: 0,0:44:50.46,0:44:56.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And Jay Carney's statement is not only shameful,
Dialogue: 0,0:44:56.12,0:45:04.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but an admission of an inability to govern by the Obama administration.
Dialogue: 0,0:45:04.86,0:45:14.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I hope President Obama and his advisers wake up to this disgrace and outrage before he's voted out of office.
Dialogue: 0,0:45:15.61,0:45:18.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sunday, November 20, 2011
Dialogue: 0,0:45:18.46,0:45:25.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Failure of Budget Super-Committee Shows Further Decay of Representative Democracy
Dialogue: 0,0:45:27.09,0:45:30.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The bipartisan bozos in Washington
Dialogue: 0,0:45:30.36,0:45:34.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- the super-committee tasked this summer with working out a new budget
Dialogue: 0,0:45:34.05,0:45:38.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by the day before Thanksgiving (that was yesterday -
Dialogue: 0,0:45:38.59,0:45:43.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm now saying, as I'm recording this podcast, but I wrote this blog on the 20th).
Dialogue: 0,0:45:43.81,0:45:51.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, back on the 20th, just a few days to go, the bi-partisan bozos in Washington are reported
Dialogue: 0,0:45:51.10,0:45:56.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be on the verge of announcing failure to reach agreement on a new budget.
Dialogue: 0,0:45:56.71,0:46:02.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is after Congress and the President failed to reach agreement on a new budget this summer,
Dialogue: 0,0:46:02.53,0:46:07.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and instead created the super-committee to come up with a budget,
Dialogue: 0,0:46:07.45,0:46:12.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a back-up of draconian cuts to major arteries of government,
Dialogue: 0,0:46:12.42,0:46:15.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ranging from the military to human services,
Dialogue: 0,0:46:16.03,0:46:20.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if a new budget was not agreed upon and approved by Congress.
Dialogue: 0,0:46:21.66,0:46:28.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here is the upshot: at a time when our and the world's economy are in serious crisis
Dialogue: 0,0:46:28.80,0:46:32.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- at a time, in other words, in which government is more needed than ever -
Dialogue: 0,0:46:32.86,0:46:38.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,our representative government in the United States is incapable of performing.
Dialogue: 0,0:46:39.52,0:46:41.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Part of it is their own fault.
Dialogue: 0,0:46:41.92,0:46:48.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Senate is tied up because it has imposed upon itself a de facto requirement of 60 votes
Dialogue: 0,0:46:48.85,0:46:51.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to pass controversial legislation.
Dialogue: 0,0:46:52.55,0:47:00.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Constitutional scholar Lyle Denniston quotes Senator Jeff Merkley (Democrat from Oregon, not on the super-committee)
Dialogue: 0,0:47:00.73,0:47:10.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as noting that the Constitution, quote: "only specifies a, quote, 'supermajority', unquote, for a limited list of Senate actions.
Dialogue: 0,0:47:10.61,0:47:17.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of them are: ratification of treaties, conviction of a President in an impeachment trial,
Dialogue: 0,0:47:17.23,0:47:22.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,overriding presidential vetoes, approving constitutional amendments ..."
Dialogue: 0,0:47:22.77,0:47:25.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,End of Lyle Denniston's quote.
Dialogue: 0,0:47:26.07,0:47:33.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nowhere does the Constitution say that 60 votes are required for difficult or controversial legislation
Dialogue: 0,0:47:33.83,0:47:38.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- indeed, I would argue that, the more pressing the need for some kind of legislation,
Dialogue: 0,0:47:38.91,0:47:44.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the more illogical and counterproductive it is to require 60 votes.
Dialogue: 0,0:47:45.30,0:47:50.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's in addition to that requirement being extra-Constitutional.
Dialogue: 0,0:47:51.18,0:47:53.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But there is a deeper factor at work here,
Dialogue: 0,0:47:53.87,0:47:59.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one that goes beyond our elected representatives shooting themselves in their own feet.
Dialogue: 0,0:47:59.51,0:48:07.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Representative democracy may well be floundering because we finally have the means, in our digital age,
Dialogue: 0,0:48:07.70,0:48:14.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to govern ourselves, to discuss and vote upon pressing issues, directly.
Dialogue: 0,0:48:14.98,0:48:20.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If budgets were put to a direct majority up-or-down vote of the American people,
Dialogue: 0,0:48:20.63,0:48:26.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,surely one would soon get 50% of the vote plus one.
Dialogue: 0,0:48:26.21,0:48:30.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Surely, in other words, a new budget would soon be adopted.
Dialogue: 0,0:48:31.19,0:48:36.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The digital revolution - social media, or what I call "new new media" -
Dialogue: 0,0:48:36.40,0:48:38.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have given us the means to do this.
Dialogue: 0,0:48:39.52,0:48:45.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Occupy Wall Street and the the Arab Spring are the leading expression of this.
Dialogue: 0,0:48:45.21,0:48:48.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Unsurprisingly, representative governments and dictatorships
Dialogue: 0,0:48:48.90,0:48:52.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are alike in opposing these developments.
Dialogue: 0,0:48:53.57,0:48:57.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the tide of history is turning.
Dialogue: 0,0:48:57.03,0:49:03.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The representative governments and the dictatorships will both continue to decay,
Dialogue: 0,0:49:03.65,0:49:06.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the people will emerge triumphant,
Dialogue: 0,0:49:06.92,0:49:14.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one hopes will less bloodshed overseas and less brutality in the United States,
Dialogue: 0,0:49:14.99,0:49:17.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than we've seen so far.
Dialogue: 0,0:49:18.66,0:49:24.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that blog post from November 20th is the last one that I will present to you here
Dialogue: 0,0:49:24.95,0:49:29.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in Part 1 of the Occupy Wall Street Chronicles.
Dialogue: 0,0:49:29.88,0:49:37.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Obviously. events are still going on. I think we are in the most significant revolution in many ways
Dialogue: 0,0:49:38.07,0:49:41.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,since in the United States, the American Revolution itself,
Dialogue: 0,0:49:41.95,0:49:46.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,certainly since the protest against the Vietnam War in the 1960's.
Dialogue: 0,0:49:46.25,0:49:52.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when you add into this the new media that I've been talking about,
Dialogue: 0,0:49:52.04,0:49:57.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,media which the protesters can hold up in the face of police brutality,
Dialogue: 0,0:49:57.78,0:50:07.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and maybe not stop that brutality at that instant, because a cell phone can be beaten down by a club.
Dialogue: 0,0:50:07.75,0:50:13.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But if that cell phone can convey to the rest of the world what's going on,
Dialogue: 0,0:50:13.51,0:50:21.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for the first time in history, police can't get away with their brutal response to protesters.
Dialogue: 0,0:50:22.04,0:50:28.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This actually began with the beating of Rodney King, really the first time in our recent history,
Dialogue: 0,0:50:28.76,0:50:36.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that a police beating was seen by more people than those that happened to be there as it was happening.
Dialogue: 0,0:50:37.03,0:50:41.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I'm optimistic indeed that the tide of history is beginning to turn.
Dialogue: 0,0:50:42.47,0:50:46.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the meantime, those of you in America, I hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving
Dialogue: 0,0:50:46.21,0:50:50.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and those around the world, I hope you enjoy your Thursday.
Dialogue: 0,0:50:50.13,0:50:57.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I'll be back here soon with additional thoughts on Occupy Wall Street.
Dialogue: 0,0:50:57.28,0:50:58.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thanks for listening.
Dialogue: 0,0:50:58.94,0:51:04.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hey, I'm back with you. I just came across this after I recorded the podcast.
Dialogue: 0,0:51:04.04,0:51:16.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It seems that on Wednesday, November 23, the NYPD has been ordered to let the press do its job.
Dialogue: 0,0:51:16.02,0:51:22.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this obviously pertains directly to the NYPD - New York City cops -
Dialogue: 0,0:51:23.01,0:51:30.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not letting the media cover the story of the evacuation of Zuccotti Park.
Dialogue: 0,0:51:30.64,0:51:32.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was reported in the New York Times.
Dialogue: 0,0:51:32.88,0:51:35.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So that's progress, that's good news.
Dialogue: 0,0:51:35.98,0:51:43.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As far as Mayor Bloomberg is concerned, however - he apparently ordered this change in police policy -
Dialogue: 0,0:51:44.32,0:51:46.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I still think he should be impeached.
Dialogue: 0,0:51:47.45,0:51:52.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We need a Mayor who gets the First Amendment right the first time.
Dialogue: 0,0:51:53.38,0:51:59.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A lot of damage was done when the police arrested and roughed up reporters.
Dialogue: 0,0:52:00.28,0:52:05.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I'll have more to say about this and ongoing developments in Occupy Wall Street,
Dialogue: 0,0:52:05.56,0:52:12.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how all this relates to Facebook, Twitter, and the resurgence of the direct democracy,
Dialogue: 0,0:52:13.20,0:52:20.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in my next podcast, in which I'll continue the Occupy Wall Street Chronicles.
Dialogue: 0,0:52:20.90,0:52:28.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm Paul Levinson. You can listen to this and any other episode on Light On Light Through anytime.
Dialogue: 0,0:52:29.10,0:52:38.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at LIGHTONLIGHTTHROUGHdotCom.
Dialogue: 0,0:52:39.78,0:52:41.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[woman] The Light On Light Through podcast.
Dialogue: 0,0:52:41.95,0:53:08.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[music]