So, once again, an Occupier has made their well being the responsibility of others – who knew?

by
Skip

And trying to be unconstitutional to boot!  After all, isn’t that the aim of the Left?  After weakening one of the checks and balances that the Founders put into the Constitution (of Senators being elected by state legislators), and trying to weaken another (the Popular Vote movement to end-run the Electoral College), now one of the small unwashed wishes to go contra-Constitutional by allowing District of Columbia residents to vote. (Constitution specifically states that only residents of States can vote).

Now, one of the few of the Occupy Wall Street sites to have not been evacuated (which “nuance “of the word is left to the reader), is that in DC.  So why am I not surprised that one of them is trying for headlines (emphasis mine):

Several protesters, including an Occupy DC hunger striker, were arrested at a rally outside the Longworth House Office Building for D.C. voting rights Friday.

Hunger striker Adrian Parsons was arrested alongside another Occupy DC protester and D.C. Vote communications director James Jones, protesters said. The rally was intended to pressure lawmakers to support full voting rights for the District as well as legislative and budgetary autonomy.

…Meanwhile, one of four Occupy the Vote DC participating in hunger strikers dropped out this week. Kelly Mears, who hadn’t eaten in eight days, said on Twitter that he was experiencing medical issues that would have become grave if he continued the strike.

The strikers had pledged not to eat until D.C. got full voting rights.

Indeed – according to a linked report, “say they will refuse food and drink only water ‘until D.C. realizes democracy.’”  Now, here’s the deal:

The Occupiers were squatting on public land when they decided to start their protest – taking from others “the commons” for their own benefit  (like what good parent is going to stroll through the wasteland of filth and human waste that the sites turned out to be?).  The Occupiers were also dependent on donations for their food, clothing, and shelter; again, relying on others for their lifestyle.  Too, many were dependent for their schooling on taxpayer monies / loans (given that Obama nationalized the student loan industry) yet turned on  the hand that schooled them by complaining about the loans they voluntarily signed for.  Now, we see someone who is using the outcome of their physical well-being by deciding, once again,  to force someone to take care of them simply for a political reason – “Let DCers vote or I will kill myself” (but the responsibility will not be on my shoulders but your’s).  In other words, I still refuse to be responsible for myself – if you don’t do what I want you to do, I’ll kill myself.

To which I say – go ahead, sport, knock yourself out!  Anyone who decides to pull the guilt card on me is bound to fail (I grew up under the master of the genre – Mom) and is sure to be rather unpleased with my reaction (sheer laughter and derision).  Only the gullible (or those dependent on headlines and public opinion for their well being)  would not see through this as a violent act of forcing a dependence upon someone else. Let me put it this way – why would I give in to a purely emotional appeal by someone who threatens death upon themselves simply for a political outcome that runs counter to our foundational premises? Let’s be clear – if someone was about to jump off of something high because of bad circumstance and I could effect a positive outcome, sure I’d try.

Let me address this, too: “experiencing medical issues that would have become grave if he continued the strike.”  Look, I can fast for up to three days before I start thinking “chocolate chip cookies, steak, ice cream, brownies, and chili hot dogs!”.  But here is a person who proclaimed “Here is my principle and I am willing to die for it!”.  Going on a hunger strike can result in the ultimate dirt nap if the courage of convictions holds up.  This case?  Not so much – and if taken like all the other actions, more hyperbole and PR than anything else (thus far).  What Kelly Mears showed was that he was unwilling to follow through and that his cause was not getting the right amount of attention, so he gave up.

Author

  • Skip

    Co-founder of GraniteGrok, my concern is around Individual Liberty and Freedom and how the Government is taking that away. As an evangelical Christian and Conservative with small "L" libertarian leanings, my fight is with Progressives forcing a collectivized, secular humanistic future upon us. As a TEA Party activist, citizen journalist, and pundit!, my goal is to use the New Media to advance the radical notions of America's Founders back into our culture.

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