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Protesters marched through SLO, seeking revolution

October 30, 2020

Photo by Richard Bastian

By RICHARD BASTIAN

Approximately 100 protesters marched through San Luis Obispo on Thursday evening to promote their demands which include dropping charges for protesters, abolishing the police and prison system, free internet, free transportation and a wealth tax.

Photo by Richard Bastian

The protest was organized by Abolitionist Action Central Coast/SLO, a group comprised primarily of Cal Poly students. The protesters marched through the downtown area, then stopped in the intersection of Hiquera and Osos streets, where they blocked traffic for approximately 15 minutes.

Photo by Richard Bastian

The students then marched to the courthouse where they performed a skit about past revolutions, and the need for violence in some situations.

Photo by Richard Bastian

 


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Never would think revolutionaries would be wearing face masks because their government told them! Most of these kids probably don’t even pay their phone bill!


66

Let’s end some of the free shit, like the $66 billion in federal subsidies paid to “farmers” during the Trump administration!


-91

Yeah, who needs a dependable food supply when you can just pay for free internet, transportation, etc., etc….maybe we can talk Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny into bringing gifts all year long!


73

Some? Let’s end ALL the free shit. Add wind/solar subsidies to your list. Add electric vehicle tax credits.


8

A bunch of unthankful, intolerant, hateful spoiled brats who need a rude awakening. Thanks to our failed education system at all levels, they have no concept of reality. They don’t have a clue about achieving on their own. Its obvious they do not have personal responsibility, or accountability. They have no grasp of good morals, values, integrity, character, honesty and truth. A direct result of again, of the systemic failure of our education system, unethical, deceitful, and bias main stream media, and the excessive greed for power and control, stopping at nothing, by the Democrat Party. What a sad, divisive and pathetic bunch they all our.


88

You say you want a revolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world

You tell me that it’s evolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world

But when you talk about destruction

Don’t you know that you can count me out

Don’t you know it’s gonna be

All right, all right, all right

You say you got a real solution

Well, you know

We’d all love to see the plan

You ask me for a contribution

Well, you know

We’re doing what we can

But if you want money for people with minds that hate

All I can tell is brother you have to wait

Don’t you know it’s gonna be

All right, all right, all right

You say you’ll change the constitution

Well, you know

We all want to change your head

You tell me it’s the institution

Well, you know

You better free you mind instead

But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao

You ain’t going to make it with anyone anyhow

Don’t you know it’s gonna be

All right, all right, all right

All right, all right, all right

All right, all right, all right

All right, all right


28

Good for them. Thomas Jefferson said that America needed a revolution every 20 years. This time, we have waited 40 years before finally growing weary of the Neoliberal policies which were ushered in by the last revolution (refer to Barry Goldwater, Milton Friedman and Ronald Reagan if you’re curious).


-125

Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan were hardly Neo Cons. Goldwater followed libertarian philosophy that made him look conservative in the 1950’s (he was anti union) and liberal in the 1980’s (he was pro choice).


Neo Cons (who actually called themselves Neo Liberals) migrated from the Democratic Party in the early 1970’s when they failed to move the party back to the center.


NeoCons favored interventionist policies internationally and eschewed the concept of state’s rights and dual federalism (where the federal and state governments are co-equals that enjoy sovereignty).


A list of NeoCon politicians could include President George H. W. Bush, President Bill Clinton, President George W.Bush and even President Barack Obama.

All of these men used military force internationally to promote democracy and protect our perceived national interest.


23

You might read more carefully. I never mentioned “Neo Cons.” Rather, I refer to the NEOLIBERAL economic policies which began to take shape in the 1960’s and were suggested by Goldwater, quantified by Friedman and the Chicago School and put into practice by Reagan.


-29

The policies of neoliberalism typically supports fiscal austerity, deregulation, expansion of the tax base, free trade, privatization, and a reduction in government spending.


While some of the policies have been instituted by our government it’s hard to claim we followed Neoliberal ideology to the letter. We have not limited government subsidies across the board or reduced government spending by implementing any type of austerity program and we have implemented trade tariffs under the present administration.


In fact the subsidies supported by the federal government fly in the face of the free market concept. We have depletion allowances for oil, gas and mineral extraction of 15% to encourage and protect investment in domestic exploration and production.


The Price Support System created in the 1930’s guaranteed farmers a high enough price to remain profitable by paying farmers to make sure supply did not exceed demand. The government subsidized farmers to keep croplands idle in order to prevent overproduction. The government bought excess crops and either stored them or gave them away to feed low-income people throughout the world. Remember the “government cheese” they used to give away? The Price Support System gave way to direct subsidies to farmers, most of these go to corporate farms.


When the government has tried to introduce austerity measures often the federal courts have prevented it, as was the last this month when a federal judge prevented the USDA implementing a rule that would have required more food stamp recipients to work in order to receive benefits by limiting states’ ability to waive existing work mandates. The judge cited (correctly I think) that such a rule was unreasonable in the middle of the Covid pandemic.


The federal government has offered housing subsidies to promote homeownership and support the construction industry for decades. Theses subsidies total about $15 billion a year.


Housing subsidies come in two forms: interest rate subsidies and down-payment assistance. The biggest interest rate subsidy is the mortgage interest deduction on the federal income tax. There are also some smaller interest subsidies that reduce mortgage costs for low-income families.


The federal government also matches the amount low-income families save for a down-payment. This came to $10.9 million in 2008.


These direct homeowner subsidies paled in comparison to what the federal government spent to support its Federal Housing Authority mortgage loan guarantee program. Remember Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae? How about FHA or VA or USDA loans?


Did you know there are currently 12 separate federal programs to help first time and low income buyers get into their first home?


Does any of this sound like we are practicing classic Neoliberal economic policies in this country.


If a revolution is coming it’s to expand the welfare state, not implement it.


11

Reagan lowered the top marginal tax rate from 70% to 28%. I would say that qualifies as a revolution.


-4

However, the reduced marginal rate was coupled with other modifications via base broadening that really didn’t significantly reduce taxes paid for high earner: reduced tax breaks, social security reform, and closing certain tax loopholes. The average tax revenue during the Reagan administration was well in line with previous administrations. His administration was however the beginning of the unending rise in national debt…which both parties seem to be perfectly ok with. Unfortunately, with our current political environment I don’t see any candidate steering us away from the welfare state that has been created….certainly, these “protesters” are not the revolutionaries to lead this charge!


5

Yes he did, after President Kennedy lowered the highest rates from 90% to 70%. I was working for $22,000 a year at the time of the Reagan tax cuts and when I saw my paycheck I thought the payroll clerk had made a mistake. I had about $450 more than I had the previous month. That extra pay helped me save for my first house.


5

If you’re referring to a revolution of neoliberalist economic policies you must be referring to Trump’s election in 2016….these “protesters” certainly aren’t protesting against the political swamp you are referring to, they will happily vote to promote the policies of our career politicians. Trump has not exactly been a fiscal conservative, but he certainly is not a NeoCon…it’s also a stretch to label him a Neoliberal with exception to the sizable national debt, which Congress owns equal ownership (there lie your true NeoLibs & NeoCons).


5

I think the closest label you can use to categorize Trump is Paleoconservative (the opposite of Neoconservatives). Even then, Trump doesn’t fit neatly into that category. I think he can best be called a populist who wants our country and its people to come first. You can debate his ideas or the policies of his administration (I think some are good, some are bad), as you could with any President.

His critics will jump on anything to launch an attack, even if it is a continuation of Obama era policies (the ones the left doesn’t like to acknowledge, such as the deportation of illegal aliens).

These kids marching don’t understand the system; how it is supposed to work and how it came to be. They have been told it is corrupt (the people running it may be corrupt but not the system itself), they have been told it must be torn down (without any idea what will replace it), by people who have an agenda they are not sharing with the masses (nobody would vote for their agenda if it was on the ballot).

I feel about these kids the way I do about a baby that gets ahold of a hammer. You just hope they don’t do too much damage before their short attention span leads them to focus on something else.


4

Look at all those “WHITE SUPREMACISTS!” Who the hell knew?


Wow! Will wonders never cease.


70

Go back to school you disconcerted youngsters. Come back when you have some life experience.


92

“Come back when you have some life experience.”


Better yet, don’t come back at all.


47

Did they apply for, and pay for, a parade permit? Or is this another freebie?


124

The best way to get free stuff is to work very hard and make a success of yourself.


118

“… work very hard…”


Well, Mitch, just keep in mind that, to the freaks in these photos, “work” is a four-letter word.


37

Work for them is creating a You Tube channel


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