Wade Rathke's Chief Organizer Blog - Latest Comments

Re: NFL Cheap on Super Bowl Community Benefits

JR — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:49:58 -0000

Two words: poverty pimps. Nothing more to say....

Re: Occupy Crossroads

Markjmayhew — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:30:10 -0000

And what (direct) actions were suggested at the meeting? None were, as usual, it's always been this way for the nearly 4 months that Occupy Nola has been in existence.

Re: Drinking, Development, and Land Use Fights in Little Rock for Tea Party and Occupy Inbox x

Lenstern — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:51:37 -0000

It's amazing how life works sometimes. I found this post on the 6th page of a google search. I can't believe I wasn't notified of the story. It's great.

Re: Military Schools Trump Charters in a Vote for Equity and Anti-Racism

Kenneth Stretcher — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:39:55 -0000

The point that I would make about the company of military students pictured is that none are in wheelchairs or twisted by cerebral palsy and none have obvious disabilities, which leads me to speculate that none have learning disabilities or autism. I also doubt that any of them ate leaded paint chips off their windowsills as poor kids sometimes do or otherwise suffered poor nutrition. In other words, I don't think there is much to learn by studying the physical and intellectual cream of the crop.

Re: Unfair Fairtrade

Jon Danzig — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 10:33:07 -0000

It's not necessary for a product to be certified 'Fairtrade' to be actually an example of fairer trade. My biggest criticism of Fairtrade is the lack of information with each product, such as who made or farmed it, under what conditions, and for what daily pay? And as far as I understand, Third World farmers have to pay for 'Fairtrade' accreditation, meaning that the smaller, poorer farms cannot afford to get 'Fairtrade' approval, even though they tick all the right boxes.
We were the first to import ethically sourced coffee to the UK back in 1976. It was years before Fairtrade started… But we created a stir when we imported almost 3 tonnes of instant coffee from Tanzania to the UK to help support manufacturing in the Third World. Our labelling was unique, and featured a photo of a pile of coins, showing who-got-what for the price of a jar of coffee. With the coffee came a booklet called, "The World In Your Coffee Cup." We provided sufficient reading material to last several cups of coffee! Last month BBC radio interviewed me about our pioneering ‘Campaign Coffee’, that helped to start the idea of ethically sourced coffee in Great Britain. The broadcast is now available on YouTube (4 minutes):
http://youtu.be/4qiHw40CubY

Re: Encampments Down, but Occupy Up: Occupy Marines

Miguel Esteban — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:55:33 -0000

Encampments are still up in dozens more cities than NOLA and LR. If ACORN would only have "gotten" how Silicon Valley could have taken it to the next level, you wouldn't still be thinking in terms of ye old red lady's twin Mississippi River Basin headquarters. Good to see you're finally getting the message that this whole 99% thing is the next evolution of what you pioneered, i.e. Organizing 2.0

PS - Don't link to articles about yourself, it's tacky.

Re: Assange is Right about Internet Archives

Greg — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:05:20 -0000

http://www.archive.org/web/web...

Re: Stephen Lerner, the Banks, and the Right-wing Scare Machine

Cyberscryber — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:22:10 -0000

Yeah and now theres the Occupy movement going on....Lerner's Occupy plan may have been delayed a few months by his time out, but obviously his dream is not dead, although I doubt it will come to fruition because most of the useful idiots involved in the Occupy movement (even though many are college educated) not only do not know how to hold a respectable, legal protest, they also don't seem to be able to grasp the reason they are Occupying. Is this because they are ignorant or because no one (Lerner) has told them the ultimate goal of the Occupy movement? Not even worth trying to figure out, but I would like to see the bums get the heck out of the parks and public places so we can all enjoy them as they were meant to be enjoyed.

Re: Fair Trade or Equitable Exchange

Jon Danzig — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 06:50:55 -0000

Readers may also be interested that many years before Fairtrade existed, we imported almost 3 tonnes of instant coffee from Tanzania to the UK to help support manufacturing in the Third World. Last week BBC radio interviewed me about our 'Campaign Coffee', that helped to start the idea of ethically sourced coffee in Great Britain. The broadcast is now available on YouTube (4 minutes):
http://youtu.be/4qiHw40CubY

Re: Privacy? Hah! Not on the Internet in America

Deweyarm — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:12:32 -0000

I'm not sure we weren't before - I always assumed surveillance by whatever state- of- the- art means ever since 1970 when I became aware I was subjected to it.

Re: Occupy Movement and Boycott Bank of America

Go Intuit — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:29:23 -0000

Yes, Next Monday I'm closing my personal account at Bank of America and moving to a credit union. Monday I'm opening a business account at the credit union. Then by the end of the week I can close my business account at Bank of America.

For 14 years I worked for one of the best attorneys in Texas. I remember him saying many times that he would never represent a bank because they are the biggest crooks in America.

Now I truly understand why he said that.

Re: Occupy: A Movement or A Moment?

kenneth stretcher — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:37:52 -0000

I am an occupy window gazer that goes to their marches and protests who thought about OWS in terms of the tent cites used during strikes and protests but there is something else going on here. They seem to be trying to demonstrate how a non hierarchial society can funlction with the use of general assemblies and working groups. At the same time they are demonstrating Their ideas of how ociety should function they are waging an ongoing campaign kagaist the most unfair aspects of the society -at-large. They are just being the change they want to make.

Re: Egyptian Revolution in Doubt

dataninja — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 13:25:36 -0000

Most revolutions eventually fail like the Revolutions of 1848.

But in many cases years after them changes are effected.

Re: Tea Party, Occupy, Movements and Organizations

dataninja — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 13:18:15 -0000

"Let the Tea-people squirm as their movement is eclipsed, and for the rest of us, it’s time to make hay while the sun shines."

Squirm? I don't think I'd be "squirming" about a movment that's gone from peacefull, to illegally occupying, to private property destruction.

BTW, where's the "occupy caucus" in congress again?

Making a lot of noise on TV and in some parks doesn't really get much accomplished.

On the other hand, the tea party caucus seems to have accomplished a lot.

Re: Katrina Airstreams With a Future

Laura J Hyer Uami — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:04:02 -0000

So wild that I ran across this article. I was surfing for a good pic of an airstream for my Boy Friend who just purchased a 31 ft, 1973 Airstream Safari. We are excited about fixing it up to be on the lake and go sking every chance we get. Another funny twist is I've just applied to FEMA, to serve as a DAE, Planning Section. I lost my job as a county emergency manager two years ago, Shawnee County, Kansas (topeka). So my boyfriend mentioned we could use the Airstream if I get the job and am deployed.

So that's what makes it special to me to read your blog....thank you for all you do for our country.

Sincerely,
Laura Hyer

Re: $300 House Might be a Disaster Solution, Not a Social Solution

Guest — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:44:59 -0000

Ya no. You're wrong.

Re: Bywater Bohemia

Boo Hazard — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 12:39:20 -0000

Great article! Just moved to Bywater about a year ago and I can't believe in the year we've been here how much it's changed. My husband and I wondered if Williamsburg transported to NOLA!

Re: Occupy Movement and Boycott Bank of America

Runnningusa — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:21:18 -0000

Bank
of America Reports Third-Quarter 2011 Net Income of $6.2 Billion, or
$0.56 Per Diluted Share. Reported on October 18, 2011. Do NOT use your credit/debit cards from 11-08-11 (Election Day) until 11-11-11 (Veterans Day)

Re: Occupy Everywhere

Miguel Esteban — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:45:55 -0000

PS - This is the best Op-Ed I have seen deconstructing Occupy Wall St. Mayhaps it will help you understand how this movement diverges from those you have been involved in in the past: http://www.versobooks.com/blog...

Re: Occupy Everywhere

Miguel Esteban — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 03:20:12 -0000

Wade, please watch this documentary. Your experience at the nexus between banking and the working class is invaluable to the movement. Free yourself from your SEIU and former ACORN badges and get involved in the movement as an individual intellectual force where most of the organizing is happening: online of Facebook. But before you do... please watch this video. Palabra ;) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Re: Occupy Movement and Boycott Bank of America

Gandsfisch — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:10:09 -0000

What if large groups of us cut up our BofA credit cards and delivered them to a bank officer?

Re: Southern Tenant Farmers Union Museum

Linda Hinton — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 03:20:49 -0000

We enjoyed your visit to the museum, Wade. Come see us again when you're visiting the Delta!

Re: Occupy Movement and Boycott Bank of America

Benji2112 — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:16:37 -0000

try shore Bank in Chicago... Opps, they was outed for what it was.

For sound community Banking advice ( and med care) Please write Robert Creamer

Re: Occupy Movement and Boycott Bank of America

Benji2112 — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:15:43 -0000

Occupy Goldman Sachs . They are biggest and Best at doing what these protesters are allegedly against .

Timmy G won't mind .. Dad Might

Re: Mainstream Confusion over Movement and Occupy

Benji2112 — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:12:46 -0000

Brother Wade,

I don't see the "forces" going after Goldman Sachs. You know, the ones "redistruting " most of the wealth ...Of course, we know where that is going don't we.

Goldman Sachs is the biggest "abuser " of Security laws, and just straight common sense. I guess as long as they are redistrubting wealth in the right places ( Dale Get any? ) We can overlook the biggest criminals on Wall Street right?

Pathetic. You once again play both sides.. except when they are your friends, and you feed from the table

Benji