I was reinvigorated over the past 24 hours having come across a Chris Hedges article in Opednews which triggered my comment to spearhead a working poor party in America (WPP). Hedges is a true patriot, an ardent intellectual who will likely ascend to new heights this year especially in the face of his pioneering NDAA suit. But for me the nascent journalist this activist reinvigoration is tempered by the ongoing struggle to survive in a system that just saw the Dow approach a new record, and my facing unemployment for at least the 4 th time during the past 24 months. How much pain can any one person take especially if he is suffering in isolation?
I am at the point now where I am either going to re-engage in the ongoing progressive plight or leave the US entirely. In unlawfully decimating the occupy encampments Bloomberg's NYPD corporate army knowingly succeeded in eliminating collective advantage reducing occupiers to dislocation, disorganization, forced re-acclamation to the grid, anger, and a confused, brooding sense of longing for the next demonstration.
On a personal level I am facing what I expect lots of former occupiers are facing; a crossroads, a truly fight or flight scenario. Speaking for myself, a hurricane Sandy victim, or climate change victim, my modest basement apartment that served as my affordable man cave, studio, work space was completely flooded and destroyed in late October and I am now living with my girlfriend in a neighboring town out of basic necessity. It doesn't help that I am officially unemployed the result of my inability to obtain let alone conform to what is left of the US job market. In truth, one of the things we progressives will have to face squarely is the poverty experienced by the individual in furthering the cause itself. This dichotomy, and its effect on outcomes as the once poor but unified and productive collective is first dispersed, eventually separated, and is later silenced back into individual isolation must be addressed.
Lately, I have found myself researching off the grid living and becoming an ex pat. It seems the next logical choice for a disgruntled ex occupier now facing poverty and the frustration of an oppressed movement. Just last night I researched moving to Equador, where I can supposedly rent a nice house or apartment for $200 per month close to a beach, with a friendly indigenous population, cheap fresh produce, tropical climate, and access to entertainment. At least in terms of rent expense, my cost of living in the US will be 5-6 times that of living in Equador!
