Category Archives: Uncategorized

Who pays for free speech?

Posted on December 30, 2011 by David S. Meyer

One night some years ago, while rushing out to the store to get milk for my kid (my excuse), I rolled slowly through a stop sign.  A police officer stopped and cited me, apologizing as he did so.  To prevent … Continue reading →

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Is protest contagious?

Posted on December 29, 2011 by David S. Meyer

As the year comes to an end, unexpected and potentially powerful protest movements are appearing in unexpected places, including China, Russia, and Syria, threatening to topple regimes and change the world. Protest movements seem to appear in a spate.  Arab … Continue reading →

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Occupy the Iowa Caucus

Posted on December 28, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Occupy activists are flocking to Des Moines for the new year, in an effort to Occupy Iowa’s Republican caucuses?  Why?  Certainly the Occupy approach has little appeal for the Republican caucus-goers, who veer more toward religious conservatism. But Occupiers know … Continue reading →

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Can the Tea Party reelect Barack Obama?

Posted on December 11, 2011 by David S. Meyer

If Barack Obama is somehow able to win reelection, the Tea Party should be on his list for a thank you note. President Obama’s prospects for reelection are decidedly mixed, but better than we’d expect given all else in the … Continue reading →

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Occupy to office

Posted on December 10, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Tracy Postert’s protests with Occupy Wall Street led rather directly to a job inside nearby.  Ms. Postert, a biochemist with a Ph.D., had suffered bouts of unemployment over the years, and had a hard time finding another job in science.  … Continue reading →

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Pandering to Occupy

Posted on December 7, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Successful social movements spark the imagination and stiffen the spine of mainstream politicians, especially ambitious or desperate politicians. Occupy has taken a lot of flak for failing to generate concrete policy proposals, but I’ve always thought that others will do … Continue reading →

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More, Miley!

Posted on November 30, 2011 by David S. Meyer

I didn’t think I’d be writing about Miley Cyrus again, but: Patricia Grim, identified as an “influential leader” in the Occupy movement, has endorsed Miley’s video, but challenged the singer to put her body on the front lines.  According to … Continue reading →

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MILEY! Music!

Posted on November 29, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Surely one of the one percent, Miley Cyrus has released a remixed video of “It’s a Liberty Walk,” dedicated to “the thousands of people who are standing up for what they believe in.”  While the dedication praises sincerity and commitment … Continue reading →

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Vacating Occupy LA

Posted on November 26, 2011 by David S. Meyer

LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has consistently praised Occupy LA, camped out on the lawn in front of City Hall for two months.  (The most interesting achievement, according to an environmental activist, was destroying the environmentally unsound green lawn.)   Throughout the … Continue reading →

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Occupy unbound

Posted on November 23, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Zuccotti Park, home for Occupy Wall Street for two months, is completely irrelevant to the future of the Occupy movement.  Now that the activists have been cleared out, we’re watching to see what the most important place will be. In … Continue reading →

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