The big "Why I'm Here" entry

The reason I haven’t written is because I’ve been mulling. In a movement like this one, where organization and action are the order of the day, there’s not much room for mulling. But I’m a muller. I knew I wanted to write here about what brought me to Occupy and I wanted to say it well, so I put it off. Turns out I’m thinking simpler is better, so here goes:

Ethics is missing in government. And it’s not un-American to say so; in fact, I’m sure Thomas Paine would be lifting a pint to the citizens in the streets. Excerpted from his “Common Sense”: 

“Here then is the origin and rise of government; namely, a mode rendered necessary by the inability of moral virtue to govern the world…and however our eyes may be dazzled with snow, or our ears deceived by sound; however prejudice may warp our wills, or interest darken our understanding, the simple voice of nature and of reason will say, it is right.”

To do the most good, our government not only has to stand for us but it should also represent the best in our nature. And it doesn’t, and they don’t. 

Occupy has the most potential power of any political and social movement I can remember in my lifetime. Why? Because it’s inclusive of so many. Ninety-nine percent! You don’t have to be of any particular political affiliation or economic standing. Dissatisfied? Show up. 

That’s also what I find so moving about these growing groups of people, camping in parks or huddled over tables in meeting rooms or protesting in the streets: no one expects you to be anything but what you are. Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Socialist or Anarchist, if you are dissatisfied with the government, let’s hear what you think is wrong. Can we agree that ethics in government is fatefully, horribly lacking? We don’t have to agree on anything else. In fact, our lively discussions will move us forward and inspire us. We just have to show that that majority of us think our elected officials are not serving us as we have elected them to do. That’s it, and it is simple. The government isn’t working properly, and it’s ours, and we want to fix it.