Crime! Drug users! Sexual assaults! Unsanitary conditions!

[Are_grits_groceries]

The mayors and the police are trying to change the message. The early morning ABC news is sure following that line. Have they even verified anything they are being told?

Yes, there are problems, but there would be with any group that set up like this. IMHO most of these people have tried to be as conscientious as possible. They are at least trying to solve the problems with rational thinking and not just beating people or whatever.

The PTB have spent more time, money, and resources into watching these groups and 'practicing' their tactical maneuvers than they have on chronic problems that some areas have faced for years. People have begged for help n some areas and gotten little or no response.

There will be a steady drumbeat of these stories whether anything has happened or whether they can legitimately be tied to OWS.this is the shield they will use to ter down the encampments and the 1st amendment.

I feel like we"re entering 'The Empire Strikes Back' phase.

[Fire Walk With Me]

1. Exactly! If they'd spent this sort of time and money on the PROBLEMS,

they wouldn't now be such problems. They're attacking those seeking to solve the problems.

[Ship of Fools]

2. This has been worrying me, too.

Hopefully they'll keep documenting and specifically calling out the occasional
asshole/plant in the group (as if MSM will report on it ... one can only hope?)

[JustAnotherGen]

3. If you have MSNBC

Flip over to it . . . The images are showing the over the top reaction by the police to the right to peaceful assembly.

If it makes you feel better - I just got back from a 9 day trip to Italy. The news is showing OWS is a highly favorable light - and I had some great EngTalian discussions with people from age 10 to 89 (a former equivalent to our Senators he was) and they are impressed with the resolve being shown. They have huge problems with Berlusconi not really "leaving" - but they still have a twinkle in their eye for us. And the images shown are VERY favorable to the protestors.

[zazen]

4. I thought this OP was about America's prisons n/t

[Are_grits_groceries]

5. I thought about it after

I posted it. It occurred to me that it could be Dodger Stadium.

[Atman]

6. Now that they realize it real, they're scared.

Republicans can't fathom "camping," sleeping on the ground. As my very-Republican brother jokes, to him camping means staying at a three-star hotel. I'm sure at the outset, the government and business leaders who are now calling for a crackdown couldn't have imagined anyone actually lasting for more than a couple of weeks, tops. Winter would come, if we ignore them they'll go home. But not only did they not go home, their numbers grew. And they don't appear to be going anywhere. This has the powers very concerned, as Occupy settlements spring up everywhere. They are impossible to ignore, even for the corporate news media. So they need to change the message, they need to create a reason why Occupy must be dispersed. Before America truly understands what the movement is about. It's too late for that, too.

This cannot be stopped, and the corporate power structure that demands that the movement be broken up only serves to underscore the message that is Occupy; corporations and self-serving power-brokers have taken over everything in America.

Rock on, Occupiers!

[get the red out]

7. This has been the RW line all along

I'm surprised it took this long for MSM to start sounding just like Limbaugh.