Greed and Injustice

Ok, I am going to be very upfront and blunt here...this message is a pure vent!  Thus, it may not make a lot of sense, but I have to express my thoughts.

I left court about an hour ago and I am pissed that the court was so disrespectful towards me and my company.  I had submitted a request for a continuance so that I could raise the money to hire an attorney to represent me and the judge totally ignored it saying that I was not on the lawsuit, regardless of the fact that I am the major owner of the company and that I signed the promissory note for Ginny's Printing.

It was clear that the judge just didn't give a shit!  He was siding with companies left and right during the hearings with no regard for the individuals that were before him.  I don't know his political affiliation, but I have no doubt based on his actions he was a Republican, and I would go as far as to say that the attorney's that were before him, including the one representing Ginny's Printing have donated to his campaign fund.  Conflict of interest?

Well, with a judgement against my company, I am now forced to figure out if I will close my business down in order to project the interest of everyone involved with my company.   But instead, I need to see how I can save my company, and save the vested interest of every person who works with me.

It was clear that I am not an attorney, and the fact the judge would not allow me an opportunity to have time to raise money to hire an attorney is pure Bull Shit!  Ginny's is already waiting for money they will not see, so what is another 3 or 6 months wait?  Why couldn't the judge allow me the additional time to save my company?  To save my last and only income that I have left? 

Once again, the rich get richer and the poorer get poorer....

Life goes on...I MUST GO ON!

Homeless Update

It's been nearly two months since I last posted anything on here. A lot has been going on so I will try and catch you up in small segments.

Storage Unit...It appears that a few other people have been living in their storage units at my complex, but they have also been discovered and kicked out. I continue to watch my self and try my best to keep my time there limited to the off hours, but not always easy to do as business continues to move forward and I do need to get into the unit durring the day at times.

My routine at the unit is as follows: I am up and out of there by 8:30 AM to avoid the staff coming to work by 9 AM. I head to the gym to work out and shower and to this day, that was one of my best moves I made when this happened. The gym is just about a ¼ mile away, so I can easly walk to it. Once done, I then return to the unit without my gym bag as I leave it at the gym for later.

At the unit, I then collect my backpack and head out to use a computer and to just be out of there. I try not to come back until 3 to drop off the backpack and then to head back to the gym to kill some more time. I will come back to the unit by 5 and chill out until 6 when they leave. Usually, I will walk up to the grocery store and get something to eat that I can cook in my microwave. This time killer helps as usually I can streatch it out till 6 pm or later, their quitting time.

Once back in, I can then use my main PC to do some work which is not always easy. I am usually so tired of walking around...trying to be gone from their...that all I want to do is relax and get some sleep so I can start my day all over again.

Sunday is the only day that the staff is not there, and that is when I try to accomplish more, especially taking my laundry to get washed at the laundriet near by. I still empty out my piss jug about every other day late at night when I hope no one is around. Don't need to be caught doing that and trying to explain it.

That's pretty much the basics of my routine that I have settled into.

12-8-11 Homeless Update

During the past few weeks I have been arranging for some medical aid. Has a homeless person and one with no personal income, I qualify for a local program that gives me access to very basic medical services, and I do mean very basic services.

Once I received appro9val, I then attempted to schedule my first doctor’s appointment.  This exam would do the basic review of your current and past medical history and would put you into the system so that it would be easier to get dental and eye care services as well.

When I called a couple of locations close to me, I was advised that there would be no appointment scheduled until late March, April or maybe even May and this was at the end of November when I called.  Three to five months of waiting for an exam, no telling how long I would have to wait for treatment.  I didn’t make any appo99ntments at the time as I was completely disgusted at the situation.  Where were our tax dollars going to?  The answer is simple, other patients.  The system is simply maxed out and barely working as it is due to the increasing amount of homelessness, new people added to the poverty levels and more and more people who simply cannot afford any medical insurance at all.  The greed of corporations and of doctors continues to push medical service out of reach for the average American, screw the poor.

After I waited a couple of days, I made another call to a different location and was shocked by the fact that they had an opening in just a few days.  I took it without hesitation!

When I arrived at this location, I was surprised at how clean and new it was and at how empty the waiting room was as well.  I found out it was one of the newer locations to have opened up, thus not many people knew about it yet.  A blessing for me.

The staff was friendly and very competent which an extra benefit to me was. My exam was uneventful so far.  Good health as expected, minus the sinus issues.  Because of this exam, I was able to get my voucher for an eye exam and glasses, which I defiantly needed.  My glasses are over six years old and my contacts are expired.  I need new eye wear!  It will not be what I want or what I am use to, but it will be good solid vision and that’s what is important.  I have an appointment scheduled soon, so hopefully within a week I will have my new glasses.

What should be noted is that the system is broke. I was lucky to get an appointment as early as I had.  The frustration I felt on trying to get an appointment is what everyone feels who is homeless and because of this, they give up.  A few will go to an emergency room knowing that they will get treated one way or another.  Thus the country hospital emergency rooms become over loaded and congested, which then creates more issues for those true emergencies that come in.

It’s the large number of peop0le who give up on trying to get medical care and suffer with their condition until it goes away, or they die from it.  While they suffer with it, they may also be spreading the disease or illness that they have which also adds to the medical overload.  Those that die from their illness because they didn’t get medical care is the true shame of what is happening, they are dyeing when they shouldn’t be.

What I have written is nothing new.  It’s been going on for 20 plus years and most likely even longer than that.  It is for you as a reader of this that may not fully understand as it is not happening to you; it’s happening to the writer, therefore there is little to no connection to you.  It’s just words on a computer.

What angers me the most is how our political leaders continue to ignore what’s going on.  Based on their actions and lack of actions our country is in a complete mess financially.  With our current election cycle, we will hear a lot of lip service to please us, but after the elections are over, I seriously doubt anything will be done to correct it.  The continued bickering between the two parties creates more and more antagonism that creates more road blacks then it does compromise.  What will it take to get them to remember who they work for; the American people, not their party.

Will millions of Americans have to die in one year for them to get their act together?  I pray to God that is not the case.

But it is clear, something has to change and fast.  Being homeless is the equivalent of a death sentence and even worst then that.  At least on death row you have shelter and three meals a day.  Being homeless you are lucky for shelter and one meal a day.  You are almost certainly guaranteed a slow agonizing death.

Vote them Out!

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Contact:

B. Alan Bourgeois

(512) 550-4582

AforCG@live.com

National Call to “Vote them Out!”

Austin, TX – Once again, the political rhetoric that divides our country continues to delay our economic recovery while allowing for corporations and the wealthy 1% to continue to profit from the misery that most Americans are currently suffering.

While our voices may be muted by politicians who are afraid of what we stand for, we are defiant in our cause and our current objective to Vote Them Out!

This national campaign is geared towards every Senator and House of Representative that is up for re-election in 2012.  Their failure to work together for the common ground of every American clearly illustrates that they have chosen not to represent the people who elected them to office, they must go.

A loud and clear voice will be heard on Election Day by those who remain in elected office that the American people are tired of business as usual.

Americans for Common Ground is a national political action grouped formed out of the Occupy movement.  They are a non-partisan organization based in Austin, Texas.

# # #

Additional contact information:

Email: AforCG@live.com                                               Blog: AforCG@blogspot.com

11-15-11 Occupy

Over the past three days, various Occupy groups have been forced with political and police pressure to be shut down and closed.  The police of course are just following directions from the politicians who were elected by the people.  Sorry, but that’s a bunch of crap.

We all know that big business contr9olls politics, from the smallest political seat of county judge to the Presidency.  So these politicians are following the orders of their donors and not of the people.  While I have no doubt that there are a percentage of people who want to see the Occupy movement shut down, it is not the majority of people.  In fact there is not a majority of people in favor of the Occupy movement and that I put the blame squarely on the heads of the movement.

As with each positive and negative incident related to the Occupy movement, they fail to respond, especially on the positive aspects such as the 4 plus billion dollars transferred out of the big banks over the past month.  Therefore, the continued lack of and decreasing support for the movement is no one’s fault but occupy.

While I agree with Mayor Bloomberg that the Occupy tent cities have become a health hazard, I do not agree with his actions.  Nor do I agree with occupy’s continued lack of pro-active measures to avoid what is currently happening.

The Occupy movement needs to step up and create a higherarchy that is com0pletely inclusive and creates a working cooperative group that allows for self policing, cleaning/sanitation and improvements to the areas in which they occupy.  In other words, take away all negative arguments that the politicians are using to shut the tent cities down.

I realize that there will always be negative issues that arise from such an event, but by having a proactive group established, their ability to deal with the negative aspects quickly will cut down the negative press.

A case in point:  On Saturday, I had agreed to meet a reporter for a follow up interview about my homelessness. While I waited for him at the Austin Occupy location, I witnessed a very heated argument between those who consider themselves die hard Occupiers and those they saw as free loaders.

This argument which leads to verbal assaults, tears and way too much screaming carried on for 20 minutes.  Because their 2was no hierarchy established, anyone and everyone was allowed to yell and scream their thoughts.  If a group had been established, they could have addressed the issue before it became a yelling match.  Instead, the 20 minutes of verbal exchange resulted in nothing being changed or accomplished, except that the amount of anger towards each party increased more than it needed to.

While there are many in the occupy movement that feel any form of government should not exist, the reality is, there must be something or total anarchy will exist.  To change government you must do two things; work from within and from the outside of the establishment.  Clearly Occupy’s continued “occupying” is not enough to make the change.  Thus the need fo4r a political extension of the movement needs to exist.

The value and concept of the Occupy movement must NOT die.  But it does have to grow and grow much faster then it currently is.

11-8-11 Occupy

Last night I attended another General Assembly meeting here in Austin. The attendance is smaller, but the commitment is just as strong.  While at the meeting, I once again saw the lack of movement and direction hurt the organization.  Case in point; No Spokesperson representing the group.

I understand that by having one or two people officially represent the group, they can be targeted by the police and the haters.  But by not having one or two spokespeople, the group misses out on delivering a clearer message of what the movement is about.  At the same time, Occupy misses out on the opportunity to communicate with the city personal and the press in a very clear way.

While there are a number of issues that Occupy wants to address, there is no reason that a spokesperson from that committee cannot exist and even rotate from with the committee.  Even a spokesperson to represent the group as a whole can and should exist.  Even they could do short terms by rotating with others to avoid the issues of “Who’s in charge.”

It is the fact of not having anyone person speaks for the group that is hurting it now.  I had posted about the fact of the press not properly giving credit for the bank transfers and last night I saw how the city and police were using the press against Occupy Austin.  If there was a spokesperson, they could have immediately responded to these issues and have them corrected.  But that will not happen unless Occupy itself begins to use its own failures of not presenting a unified front.

Select people who want and can communicate and that do represent the variety of the group.  Allow them to take on certain issues to represent, or represent the overall core concept and let them rotate as spokespersons.  But to not to this the group as a whole will be making its own coffin.  The negative press or lack of good press will destroy the movement.

Life goes on…I go on.

11-7-11 Occupy

On Saturday, Nov. 5^th, the Occupy Movement along with a young lady created the National Fire Your Bank Day.  I went to the march to show my support but was shocked by the low attendance.  I had expected to see much more especially considering the large press coverage that the movement was getting.  I could not stay, as the homeless event I needed to attend was also scheduled at the same time.  I see this, as the beginning of the end for the movement if things do not continue to change.

To that aspect, I continue to meet and talk with a variety of people, who like myself, feel that the Occupy movement must change and grow.  Their time and power is getting smaller and smaller as demonstrated by the lack of participants and by the fact that the national press is giving more credit to two individuals then to the movement.

It should be noted that based on the couple of national news stations I had watched over the weekend, $4.5 billion dollars has been moved out of the top banks over the past month.  A 164% increase in membership to Credit Unions was seen in the month of October as well.  This huge increase in membership is more than Credit Unions do for a whole year.  This is not because of one or two individuals, but because of a huge movement!   It is this lack of press coverage that is also killing the movement.  Occupy needs to jump on that issue and make it clear, that everyone involved, including those two young women, and the movement made this happen.  Banks are aware of the movement, but it seems Occupy is not.

So, on Election Day Nov 8^th, I hope to be able to encourage some type of political action to begin here in Austin, and I hope other cities take charge and begin to form their own political wings as well.  Occupy cannot fail now, and cannot lose the momentum that had started.  Anger has Occupied the movement and must now move in a healthy direction.

11-3-11 Quite Your Bank Day

I have posted before about eh Occupy movements national day for switching your bank on Nov. 5^th.  Here is a poster that you can save and print out to pass out to your friends.  This is a national event, as it also needs to be worldwide.  Big banks cannot continue to treat us as they do and they only way to them to stop is to lose a great deal of money.  And no, it will not cause them to go bankrupt, and their statements of having to fire and layoff it’s employees is set off by the fact that the Credit Unions and smaller banks will hire those people.  Bottom line, they know what can happen and they are scarred that American’s will wake up and actually teach them a lesson.

Life goes on…I go on

National Bank Transfer Day - Nov. 5, 2011

 

As you know, B of A backed off from the $5.00 debit card charge they had planned on implementing.  This is due in cause by the young lady who started the petition and by the Occupy movement.  The Occupy movement has been pushing people to take their money out of large banks to show them that they DO NOT control things.  In Austin, I am aware of about $200,000 moved out of B of A and Chase banks.  That's a great start and it needs to go further.  The Banks need to understand that even though they are a business, they are there to work with US not against us, and not to steal from us.

 

I hope you will help support this movement.  Below is some additional information to help you with your decision.

 

Here is web contact for site:   www.occupyaustin.org/bank-action . Will tell you everything you need to know about how to Fire Your Bank and Hire A Credit Union with multiple links to helpful other information.

 

Life goes on...I go on.

 

11-1-11 Occupy Austin

I really do want the Occupy movement to succeed, but I am still greatly concerned over the lack of direction it has.  Here is an example:

A group meets as the finance committee last night.  I sensed from what I heard that it was their first meeting.  Apparently, money has been donated to the group, and it was time to become financially responsible for it and the group.  As the meeting seems to stumble along, I asked someone what they were fore, they stated Occupy Austin.  I thing asked, “Ok, what is Occupy Austin?”  As usual they could not answer the question, and the first person I asked, pushed me off to someone else in the group to answer the question.  They too, could not answer the question.  So I then asked, "If you cannot tell me what Occupy Austin is, then how can you open a checking account?"  They were quick to say, well join our group and help us figure that out.  Sorry, but finances is not my thing as demonstrated by my own company.  However, I did know that real soon, today preferably, if not last night, people within the group of Occupy Austin and all other groups were going to have to determine what Occupy is.  Is it a political action group, an educational group, a for profit, or non-profit, etc.  If they don’t address this and begin moving in some direction, they will be lost. 

If been hounding this issue for the past week now and I feel it falling on deaf ears.  The die hoards that spend the nights in the tents don’t want to do much more.  The die hoards that are trying to create something are allowing too much influence from everyone to keep them from becoming something.  There is absolutely no reason at all that Occupy must be just one thing.  This group and the movement can become many things, various groups splintering off from the main source.  But sometime real soon, if they don’t become something, other than an occupying group, the movement will be lost. 

I do what I can when I can, and that is very, very limited I am sorry to say.  My focus is my business and for me to no longer be homeless.  Until that is corrected and improved upon, my time for the Occupy movement will remain limited.  I just hope what I write does help others to be moved in some way to help out and make the change that is necessary.

Life goes on…I go on.

10-31-11 Occupy Politics

Earlier today, I went down to Occupy Austin to see what was happening with the organization considering the current arrest that has been made.   It is clear that the numbers are down, and that the moral is starting to sway a bit.  It is also clear that many people are more energized to keeping the movement alive.  While I talked with a couple of people it became clearer to me that they do need to take on a Political aspect to their movement.  I had posted on this subject earlier in the day.  Thus, the reason for this follow posting now.

Below is the beginning concept of what I feel needs to be created to keep the Occupy movement alive.  It is rough, and I am sure it needs some more feedback from those involved.  So, please feel free to email me at OccupyPolitics@live.com, or add your response here to my posting.

Life goes on…I go on

Occupy Politics

Occupy Politics is a grass roots organization born out of the Occupy protest movement.

Goal:

To be a clear voice for Middle America politics that clearly finds the middle ground of the Right and the Left to keep our country strong, vibrant and powerful on a global basis.

An Occupy congress is created first on a local city by city level, then by State level from those city organizations, then a National level by the state organizations.  Each entity is to be focused on the issues related to their local needs and desires, while then addressing it on a State and National level as needed.

To create an Occupy congress, participants within the individual Occupy movements will select one person from each of the follow categories:

Caucasian

Hispanic/Latino

African American/Black

Asian

Other Nationalities that are represented within their Occupy group as needed.

LeTs Bi Gay/Homosexual

Straight/Heterosexual

Male

Female

Democratic

Republican

Independent

Homeowner

Homeless

Income of less than 25,000

Income of $25,000 to $50,000

Income of $50,000 to $100,000

Income of over $100,000

A spokes person, a treasurer, a director and a Chairman will also be selected from the group.

It should be noted that on an ideal basis, one person should only represent one category, so that they may be able to focus on the concerns and issues for that group, thus not having their time & energy divided up by other category issues. 

It should also be noted that no one racial or ethnic group should have a majority of elected members.

The strength of the organization will cause the party leaders from political groups to respond to and work with Occupy Politics.  Furthermore, those seeking a political office will address gatherings of Occupy Politics within their area.

At NO time, will an Occupy Politics organization support in any manor via an endorsement, financial aid, financial gift, or an6y other form, a political group or person running for a politi9cal office.

10-31-11 Occupy Austin

Well, the city of Austin has started to treat he Occupiers like all the other cities have, as a nosecones and something to get rid of.  I understand their frustration, they’ve been Occupying the front square of city hall for 24 days and not much has come from it.  But that sadly is the case for all of the Occupy cities.  So many of the Occupiers claim there is not one person in charge of their group, that they all are in charge and that they all vote on what the movement wants and declares it to be.  But, in the process, things are not getting done at a pace that will keep the movement alive.  Instead, this slow Occupying process is just that Occupying.  No movement, no forward motion.

On Saturday, I was there to be a part of the march.  The march started late, so I could not stay as long as I wanted to.  During my time there, I was able to talk with a few people, including those who were doing independent films.  The same conscious aspect was emerging from each person, enough Occupying and now let’s do something that moves the movement forward.  The march a few weeks ago that closed out some bank accounts at Chase and B of A was a good move; it made the banks aware that there was some backbone to the movement, the anger.  But that was it, nothing else is happening.

Therefore, the cities are starting to get tired of it and want the Occupiers gone.  If no political power is created, then there is no reason to keep the movement alive.  It is past the time for Occupy to do something of value, other than occupying. 

I strongly encourage ALL Occupy cities to have an internet conference and begin to act as a political movement.  Choose someone from each city to represent the city, and then choose a group of people from those to represent the country, etc.  Create the power of a political movement, for that is the only aspect that politicians will listen to.  Create a platform that majority of American’s can support, that is in the middle of the Right and of the Left.  Not everyone will be happy, they never are.  But, by creating the single voices, you begin to give a focal point that people can see and can begin to get behind.  Right now, Occupy is occupying and losing their momentum.  Don’t let this happen!

Oh, and for those of you who always encourage people to take up the fight and do something, don’t keep passing the buck.  You are there; you are a diehard Occupier, so make the movement move forward and become a true reality of change.  Those of us that are doing our best to survive will be there when we can.

Life goes on…I go on.

10-29-11

On Thursday as I sat at the library PC typing in my latest blog, a reporter from KXAN (CBS) was asking people if they do job search using the computer.  I responded and said I could answer her questions from two points of view.  We sat down in a quiet area and she interviewed me.  I advised her of my homelessness, job searching and trying to keep my business alive.  I felt it was a good interview and I hope she does use it in some way.  As of this morning (Saturday) I have not seen anything on TV, which is not really a surprise since I hardly get to watch any considering my situation...lol

In the mean time, I keep trying to find a way to pay my storage unit, a possible source of income may have come through which will allow that to happen, but I have to wait a few days to see if it does.  I keep the faith that it will all work out.

An author or mine, Dennis Matranga and I went to Occupy Austin on Thursday night to try and get some press for his book.  We were able to get him on a live feed for their web site, so that was good.  We also left a copy of the book their in their free library.  What is interesting is that what Dennis's book "American Me?" is about, is exactly what Occupy Wall Street is all about.  It was nice to see that we had the book out in eBook format long before Occupy had happen.  I hope we get some of the credit...lol

I had mentioned in one of my last postings of a friend who wanted to send money to me.  I had encouraged her not to for I felt her family would need it.  Well, she was not going to hear that. She is sending me some anyways...lol  I GREATLY appreciate it!  But, I have to be honest, I'm not using many of the free services for the homeless unless I absolutely have to.  I don't want to take from others who made need the free services more then I do.  I do have some money, though a small amount flowing in and out and it is that I use to keep me alive and going.  Therefore, why should I use other services when I don't need to?  I'm not being heroic or selfish, I just don't want to take away from others.  Too many people are in need of help, and it saddens me to see our Government not doing anything about it.  What little they have done is just that, little and not nearly enough.  Instead, billions will be used on campaigns to elect a new President...something is so wrong with that!

Life goes on...I go on.

10-27-11 #2

10-27-11 #2

I received an email today from one of my supporters.  She has been racking her brain on how she could help me financially, even though her family is going through extreme times themselves.  She went as far as to send some money from her son’s savings account.  I am very touched by that, but I was very clear NO, NOT to send me any money.  Her and her family may need that money themselves if things don’t improve for them.

It is a wonderful gesture, but one that I could not live with. 

I know that all of this HELL that all of us are going through is to force us to make a change for the better.  Occupy Wall Street is part of that.  We need to support them in every way we can, and to make sure each of us helps change politics and greed. 

ALL of us deserve and have a right to a good life, not one of being worked to death for pennies, or for fear of losing our job.  Each of US deserves to have a place called home, wither an apartment, a home or a sleeping bag in the woods.  It should be our choice, not corporations, not politicians, not greedy people.

Change MUST happen and happen SOON!

Life goes on…I go on.

10-24-11 Occupy Austin

10-24-11 #3

Occupy Austin and the other groups keep hanging in there and I applaud them for keeping it up. 

I also hope that they take this suggestion to hear and do something serious about it.

One of the major complaints Occupy has is the strong influence large corporations have in politics and economics.  But what about sports organizations?

Sports organizations are large corporations as well.  (Well actually, most of them are organizations held by a few owners and are not traded on the stock market, they don’t want to share their profits.)  Is no one angry at the ridiculous amount of money being paid to spoiled athletes?  And yes, I say spoiled as most of the ones earning over $1 million a season are spoiled.

The NBA is currently in negotiations with its players over contract issues which means who’s going to get more from the revenue. The players feel cheated by the owners. T he owners are being penny pinchers.  Thus, it all comes down to money.

I suggest that each of the Occupy cities who have major sports teams send groups to those offices and Occupy them.

Being paid well for your talent is one thing, but really, I mean being paid so much money that it’s ridiculous.  I say give 10-20% of your earnings, both players and organizations back to your community through the arts programs that help create our future scientist, artist, musicians is a much better use of your money then hoarding it.

Occupy organizations, the challenge is made.  Will you express anger at the sports organizations as you have done with others, or allow the status quo?