This diary is actually a suggestion for a new program for the provision of supplies to the intrepid and righteous souls who are putting their lives on hold and their bodies on the line by attending an Occupy Movement Event. If it has already been suggested or implemented then feel free to move on. If it has not then please give it some consideration.
Simply put, I would like to see the implementation of a system of distribution by the GAs of debit-cards/gift-cards that can be funded by online supporters of the movement. I would like the cards used by the protestors at the closest socially-responsible businesses to their location. The support of these local businesses will likely be key to helping the movement survive the brutal conditions of winter.
More of my reasoning after the squiggle.
Thus far the Occupy Movement participants have strived to be low-impact good neighbors. This is no small feat in the crowded urban settings in which many find themselves. This is also a purposeful part of the protest strategy so as not to turn off prospective allies before they can be turned on by the message. All of this is appropriate IMHO.
One aspect of the occupations that may be a bit more controversial is the relationship between the protestors and the owners and operators of businesses local to the occupations. Some of these businesses may be franchises of multinational corporations but many, maybe even most, are small, mom-n-pop establishments that have been suffering right along with the rest of us - certainly their employees have. It is my strong opinion that my contributions to the movement would be better spent if they were spent at those businesses by the protestors themselves.
I wrote a comment in another diary about this issue which led me to this idea:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
I was watching The Daily Shows report by Samantha Bee where she interviews the businesses surrounding the OccupyWallSt location. They were - to put it mildly - disgusted by the actions of some demonstrators that took place within their businesses.
I cannot emphasize this enough - the operators of those small businesses are not the enemy here. They are potential and natural allies to the movement. Certainly their cooks, waiters and busboys ought to belong to the cause. Treat them with respect and spend your socially conscious dollars in their establishments. Why should the pizza companies get all the money.
Consider this an extension of the locavore movement - if you set up your location in a certain area then you have a responsibility to support the businesses surrounding that location. You don't have to go to Starbucks if you are anti-corporate but you can find a small coffee shop. Yes, you might have to fund a lesser evil but it is the right thing to do and will actually help to prolong the movement through a very trying winter. Do you think that the NYPD is not going to confiscate your space heaters? Do you think you will not need a heated refuge every now and then when the freezing rain threatens your encampment?
If money is an issue then surely somebody with technical savvy can set up some kind of PayPal thing which can provide for debit cards or gift cards that can be used at these businesses. Support them and they will support you. Using bad behavior to pit one member of the 99% (the business owners and employees) against another member of the 99% (the demonstrators) is a classic Class War tactic of the 1%. We must not allow that to happen.
I am sure that with a little thought a system of online payments could be set-up with the proper controls and transparency to prevent corruption. A simple button on a website that allows somebody to contribute to a debit card that can either be used by, or distributed by the GA for food, water, sundries at these local businesses. Help them and they will help you.
If you are going to use the bathroom then buy something. And leave it cleaner than when you found it. Remember, another 99% will just have to clean up whatever you do in there and that guy probably has it worse than you. You may be an urban camper but the Campsite Rule still applies - Leave It Better Than When You Found It.
10:47 AM PT: I should add that this method for funding the Occupy Movement is largely anonymous and therefore would not risk co-opting the movement by a named establishment. For example, if a known activist or Progressive organization were to provide money or supplies then the Movement could be seen as beholden to the donor. By supplying debit cards which are loaded by anonymous online donations there would be no chance for that perception to take hold. Plus, small donors can have a huge impact - 100 donors giving $5 each can feed a lot of protestors!
2:09 PM PT: I have gotten feedback from commenters at Crooks and Liars that suggest that there might be resistance to the idea of doing business with credit card issuers which would be necessary in order to get a gift/debit card. While I agree that these companies are pretty heinous I can think of no other way to do it and the ubiquity of these cards makes avoiding them difficult. I do not like that my electricity comes from coal-fired power plants but, given no other viable alternative I choose to simply use electricity in a judicious manner. I think the same principle applies to gift/debit cards.
Perhaps somebody with access to a General Assembly could see what they think about the idea.