Occupy Las Vegas, Occupy Congress, Occupy the Vote

We've heard plenty about what may have happened when Occupy Las Vegas moved Downtown yesterday. I wanted to share with you what I thought was the most poignant part, which was the part that did not receive all that much media attention.

Take a look at the video above... And these photos below.











Look at the 99% here. They were carrying signs and shouting out sound bites, yet they were also sending an important message directly to Nevada's Congressional delegation, especially Senator Dean Heller (R-Tea Party) and Rep. Joe Heck (R-Tea Party). While the G-O-TEA duo were promoting their "Balanced Budget Amendment" hogwash (since they are not actually interested in balancing any budget, all they want is another excuse to destroy America's social safety net), Nevadans were outside Heller's Las Vegas office and asking him to focus on what Americans really need: JOBS!

And interestingly enough, Heller's former colleague (and Heck's opponent last year) came by to address the crowd. She delivered this same message.



Dina Titus obviously has a different perspective on Congress, since she was briefly a member of Congress (and plans to return there in 14 months). Still, I see more here.

It can be quite easy to become discouraged by the whole process. And it can be quite easy to become distracted by the endless media hype and speculation over meaningless "dog and pony shows". And it be quite easy to become disgusted by all the dirty corporate money thrown around. Sometimes, it's quite difficult to remember what really matters.

However, we just can't forget. We can't forget the importance of getting involved, contacting our members of Congress, building a real movement, and ultimately using our votes to change what we don't like. That's the beauty of our system, and that's something we should never feel compelled to give up.

We can't wait for job creation. And we can't wait for an end to Congress' charade games that keep threatening middle class families. We need real, bold action on job creation. And if the current G-O-TEA House majority prevents Congress from acting, then we need to change Congress by occupying the vote.

Lesson Learned: If We Don’t Like It, Then We Must Change It

A MoveOn protest formed Downtown yesterday, and I was there for it. People were angry about what just happened, and they had questions for Dean Heller. Unfortunately, Heller's office in Las Vegas didn't really do anything but provide a printed statement on his vote yesterday.

Oh yes, that's right. It was all just a word salad full of regurgitated teabagger talking points that equate eliminating Social Security and Medicare to "protecting" them. And yes, his statement actually went there.

So that's why we weren't happy yesterday.









Most of the group stayed downstairs as Heller's office agreed to only "two at a time", then directed security to politely guide everyone holding signs down to the "free speech zone" below the stairs. So the rest of us stayed downstairs as passersby along Las Vegas Boulevard were honking in support. A local attorney walked by, and he was flabbergasted as soon as he realized what happened. A local homeless person also came over and tried to argue with the group, but I just felt sorry for him.

And then, things got far more interesting. A staffer from Harry Reid's office came down to join us, and he proceeded to explain what's actually in the debt bill and how to move forward. He discussed Reid's disappointment in the lack of new revenues in the final bill, how he worked to build a firewall around Social Security, Medicare, & Medicaid benefits in the final bill, and what to do now to prepare for the fight ahead on the "Super Congress" commission.

So what can we do now? Well, start by encouraging Reid to stay strong and ensure his appointees to the commission do the right thing on it. And looking further ahead, we need to make sure we no longer have to worry about Dean Heller and Joe Heck encouraging the teabaggers to continue with their irresponsible and dangerous behavior. We're already seeing Heller's poll numbers drop. If we want to avoid this kind of preventable drama in 2013, we can start by changing Congress.

Join MoveOn at Tomorrow's Health Care Rally @ United Health HQ!

FYI, MoveOn will be doing a pro-health care reform/pro-public option rally tomorrow at United Health's office near Summerlin. If you can get off early for lunch break and work in the area, try making it over there. Show your support for real health care reform by joining local grassroots activists in taking on Big HMO.

Come to a "Big Insurance: Sick of It" Rally in Las Vegas tomorrow!

Big Insurance is fighting to stop real health care reform. Tomorrow, we're gathering at rallies nationwide to send a strong message that we're sick of Big Insurance—and we demand a public health insurance option, now!  

Where: United Health Care Offices (in Las Vegas) 2724 N. Tenaya Way Las Vegas, NV 89128 When: Tuesday September 22nd at 11:00 AM What: We'll hear stories from individuals who are suffering under our broken health care system, and deliver a letter to Big Insurance, demanding that they stop denying us care.

This Is What REAL Grassroots Looks Like

These were real people gathered in Boulder City last night.

About 40 people gathered on a dirt lot in downtown Boulder City Wednesday night to show support for health care reform.

The vigil was one of more than 300 planned as part of a nationwide effort by the liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org. A second vigil was held at the same time in front of University Medical Center in Las Vegas.

Those who had gathered in Boulder City carried candles and signs and told stories that illustrated the ways they see the current health care system failing.

And they had real stories to share.

Dina Wawers said she suffered a spinal injury two years ago in a fall and is no longer able to work. For the past two years, she has tried to get onto Social Security disability and has been denied. She is appealing but, in the meantime, she has no health insurance, she said. [...]

Speech and language pathologist Valerie McNay told the group she has good health insurance through the Clark County School District, but she thinks the money it costs could be better spent on educating children.

In addition, she said, her family is having difficulty getting a health insurer to pay on a long-term care policy her mother has had since 1994 now that her mother has dementia and needs in-home care.

In addition, McNay said, her mother has to continue to pay the $3,800 annual premiums on the policy.

“Something has to change,” she said. “We need health insurance reform now.” [...]

“Everyone is just one incident away from losing their livelihood or life,” said Cassie Rice, a Henderson business owner.

Ian Smith, who identified himself as a firefighter and emergency medical technician for eight years, said he recalled patients refusing care because they were afraid of the hospital bills or that insurance would not cover their care.

After being laid off from a previous job, he said, he cannot get health coverage because of a pre-existing condition. That has left him and his five children without coverage, he said.

Notice that there were no buses full of "teabagger superstars". There were no angry mobs brandishing rifles and starting brawls with other people. There were no corporate fat cats funding some massive media spectacle.

No, these were just real working people calling for real health care reform. That's all.

If you feel as bad as I do about missing this, you can still do the virtual vigil at MoveOn now. Tell your story and counter the corporate funded lie campaign with the truth.