Why yes, I do have an Eric Clapton cover in my head! And why do I? Because the police have done yet another midnight raid to clear out yet another Occupy camp:

Occupy San Francisco camp taken down
http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/occupy-san-francisco-camp-taken-down-1.1194328

Besides the apt title, it’s because it’s a song of celebration, and well… nose thumbing. The cities can keep falsely citing health and safety, the police can keep clearing out camps and arresting people, but it’s not gonna stop people from protesting and occupying. They can try to limit media access, brand protesters illegally and with potentially toxic materials, but spirits remain high and the message remains firm. We are the 99, and across the world that means that people deserve to be treated as people.

One thing one of my dear friends brings up often these days is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. I’m rather bemused by how many educated stupid are unfamiliar with it; I only did a year of college before realizing it was a stupid rip, and I most definitely took psychology and philosophy in it so I could have a better understanding of the human psyche. Mental health issues continue to be on the rise because people do not understand their basic needs, that food, shelter and family are VASTLY more important to one’s well-being than the latest gadget and the supposed esteem that comes with ownership. People sneer at the poor, presuming that they deserve to be such because they’re lazy or bad or on drugs. There is a boggling lack of understanding that if people do not have their basic needs met, they are NOT going to be healthy people. THAT is why we see appalling things happen, such as this tale out of Texas:

Texas mom who shot kids, killed self in standoff was denied food stamps, official says
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57338280-504083/texas-mom-who-shot-kids-killed-self-in-standoff-was-denied-food-stamps-official-says/

This woman was denied help in fulfilling her deficiency needs (d-needs). She was probably not a bad person – she was merely unwell because her basic needs were not being met. THAT is why it is important to have a strong social safety net; it is NOT communism, it is taking care of yourself and everyone else. Because rugged individualism is a key feature in the American psyche, along with eternal optimism, it creates a situation where those who need help to actually BE people are denied it, and when noticed, find themselves buried under mountains of derision and scorn. Compassion is not a crime. Socialist establishments such as nationalized health are not a secret new world order attempt to strangle America to death. Good breeds good, and bad breeds bad – reach outside of yourself and help breed the good. Help people as you can to have their basic needs met. After all, if ‘worthless’ ‘jobless’ ‘hippies’ such as the Occupy protesters can:

Occupy Wall Street takes on the housing crisis
http://money.cnn.com/2011/12/05/real_estate/occupy_wall_street/index.htm

Then what’s your excuse? At the worst, you’ve made someone else’s life worth living. At the best, you have enhanced your own life by enhancing others. And really – get on with the full grokking of the Hierarchy of Needs. You might just be surprised how much knowledge of it will make your life better.

Until next!

<3