I'm with Citizen. Illegal, ugly, unneeded. Why do we make laws when we all know big business will do whatever they want anyhow. I should start a business renting out trailers I could line up along the highway. Great profitability in renting out things that aren't yours. Burn one down and I bet law enforcement gets involved. Unless they are too busy harassing the occupiers and killing the needy and our children.
Sure hope we can make the trail happen, it would be a great addition to our community. Good for transportation, relaxation, it would have health benefits and would open communications, good for walkers and bikers, a focal line for our outdoor-lovers, and those from afar. Include a long narrow community garden, educational kiosks and energy production, rest/picnic areas, meeting room, band shell, bike and kayak rental.
"who is at fault" Unfortunately it is built into the system, the capitalist system. Our government had controls on corporate activities through charters in the early years. Those controls have been largely eliminated, which has allowed for a great deal of control going to the corporations. Those corporations have no moral center, they simply operate to produce more short term income for the shareholders (and CEOs). Colonel Sanders is in charge of the chickens, and we chickens voted him in!
It seems reasonable that people want inexpensive consumer goods, and that most are willing to work for another to earn enough to buy those goods, it requires education in global economic issues and compassion for people to be outraged by the greed and inhumanity of multinational corporations like Wal-mart and to recognize the destabilizing effect the stores have on local economies. Wal-mart will take business from local merchants, and will send much of their profit to people that don't live around here, and therefore won't spend it around here. That money is out of our local economy, and won't come back. The value of our labor is in effect extracted from our community. The goods are cheaper at Wal-mart in part because they sell things that are produced by folks that make a lot less than we do here in the U.S. Much of manufacturing is done in other countries, while we are left with lower paying service jobs here. Another rub to the game is that supporting the global system (aka buying at Wal-mart) weakens the position of workers around the world by funneling cash to the very people that support agreements and legislation aimed at maximizing corporate profit including minimizing labor costs and worker's rights. Our personal economic power is seated in how we spend and invest our hard earned money, each dollar like a vote for whatever organization we want to support. Cast your votes with care Humboldt.
Too bad America's "free trade" agreements have sucked many jobs to other countries. It is sad to see the results.
Re: “The End of Occupy Eureka? (UPDATED)”
Sad indeed. Historically there was a point when we got involved in agriculture, and the very fertile areas produced more than needed, which created an accumulation of wealth. This wealth provided power, which in turn allowed for stronger opinions of those with the power. Those opinions became laws, and the idea of might makes right was born. We accept the strong father ideology as fact. If I don't do what Dad says, I'll get punished. Same with teachers, police, jail keepers (more police, I know), drill sergeants...nothing against teachers who try to help our youths, but isn't classroom management necessary largely because of this tension between "people of power" and the individuals that are feeling less power? A more civil system might include things like discourse, caring attitudes, consensus building, and cooperation. Authority would be born of experience and wisdom, which would be respected. Real authority doesn't come from carrying a taser or pepper spray (or a gun or thermonuclear device).