The local OWS movement has been camping out on the north plaza of the Hennepin County Government Center, where I work, for a few weeks now. County Commissioner Jeff Johnson is not pleased. He attended a meeting of the Midwestern Republican Leadership Conference that kicked off at the same time as the protest and said:
Because of you, I don't have to spend my Friday afternoon with 1000 or so clueless, obnoxious and, frankly, very messy anarchists, socialists, flower children, or whatever they call themselves. Instead, I get to spend my Friday with 1000 or so patriots.
He has since "apologized" on his blog. If you follow the link you will see to what degree his expressive powers rise to the challenges posed by the "nonapology apology" rhetorical form. What he said about the protesters is all true, but he should have kept the truth to himself. It has to do with church and lessons he teaches his children, etc. He does not take a stance on the business strategy of socializing risk and privatizing profit. At least his conception of a "patriot" is clear: anyone who attends the Midwestern Republican Leadership Conference.
I think Dr Johnson was wrong. Patriotism is the first resort of a scoundrel.
Meanwhile, John Cassidy, of The New Yorker, has an offbeat, enjoyable post concerning the identities of some unlikely supporters of OWS. Everything Cassidy writes is interesting. As long as I'm thinking about it, I'm adding him to my Blog Roll; and, as long as you're in his neighborhood, check out his expert dismissals of the tax plans of leading Republican presidential contenders: "9-9-9" Cain and the optional nonflat flat tax of the one with the nicest hair.
