Conversation With A Chicago Cabbie

It is the day of the Michigan and Arizona primaries.  I am loaded down with groceries and can't walk the 4 blocks to the bus.  Cabbies don't like to pick up people carrying grocery bags.  They want people with luggage.  Finally a strikingly handsome cabbie with a well tended beard and a beautiful, bright orange turban not only picked me up, but also helped load my groceries in the back seat.

I notice a Ron Paul sticker in the back seat on the notice that lets you know who to call with compliments or complaints.

Me:         "You know someone put a Ron Paul sticker in your cab?"

Cabbie:   "Yes, ma'am.  Yes I do."

Me:        "Okay, just wanted to make sure you knew."

Cabbie:  "Know why I leave it there?"

Me:       "Why?"

Cabbie:   " Driving a cab makes you a student of people.  I have been studying all those  guys.  Ron Paul.  He is the only one who isn't lying to us."   

               
Me:          "Thanks for the smooth ride and the clean cab.  And I think you're right about Mr. Paul."

Cabbie:    "Have a great evening." 

.....As he helped me unload my groceries from his cab. 

Surprisingly pleasant interlude.  Yes, I gave him a great tip. I take back everything I've said about cabbies in Chicago.  Well, almost everything.

Debate This.

Monday's Tampa debate was the worst of the lot.  The Mitt and Newt show that Brian Williams allowed for the first interminable minutes was a travesty.  Talk about a schoolyard spat between two petulant brats.

The only two grownups in the room were Rick and Ron.  Thank heavens they are gentlemen who chose not to twist and shout about being ignored by NBC.

  We get who these people are.  Does the phrase "familiarity breeds contempt" sound appropriate?  Maybe we are ready for some "absence makes the heart grow fonder" time.


NO MORE DEBATES.  And whomever takes credit for the Super PACs should be run out of town on a rail.  I fear I am out of words on this subject.  So are the candidates, but they just keep talking anyway.  There's got to be a better way.  Any ideas?

Occupy Tucson - Not My Kind of Tucsonans

Nursing a bad shoulder, with camera, husband and friend in tow, I ventured into the Occupy Tucson world.  Having had a positive experience with the Chicago Occupiers, I expected more of the same.  But no.  The only similarity was the statue of a horse  and rider.  Now that I think about it, what self respecting American park doesn't have such a statue.

Instead of being welcomed, as I was in Chicago, and respectfully told what the objectives were, I was questioned about my presence there.

One young man, who claimed to be a leader, said that it was all about homelessness. There have always been homeless living in downtown Tucson, near the courthouse.  If I were homeless I'd sure go to Tucson and not Minneapolis.   They had been removed from the park across from the courthouse and allowed to move to Parque 20 de Agosto.  The park commemorates the birthday of Tucson.  On August 20th, 1775 this site was established as a new Presidio - San Agustin de Tucson - making it the northernmost outpost of Spain in Arizona.  I had asked a guy earlier what the name of the park was, before I found the marker.  His response - "Don't ask me, I just got in town yesterday." - gave me hint of what made this so different from Chicago's.

I decided to avoid the self proclaimed leader and headed into the fray for a self guided tour. Husband and friend declined to join me.  So into their midst I went.

  There was a clear buzz of anger.  There was foul language.  There was loud expounding on the M-F'n cops and the court system.  I didn't hear any reasonable voices or see  signs of peaceful protest.  I saw a largely unwashed, or at least disheveled, crowd. Many were asleep in the tents.  I took in the scene of outdoor grills and cases of water and lots of food. Donated?  Where did all the expensive tents come from?  I did see a small bookcase labeled "Library" and  a poster with an agenda scribbled on it.  I guess 2:00 PM was their down time.  No one was manning the stage or the microphone. I crossed the busy street to climb up a few steps to allow for a bird's eye view of the park. 

There was a security guard there to keep the Occupiers out of the small shopping center in their pursuit of bathrooms.  I asked him if most of the people were homeless.  "Hell, no - some of them are, but there are others. Students  with time on their hands -over there in Berkeley and other California schools- decided to get involved and they split themselves into groups and some went to Tucson and some went to other cities." Well, that explained the expensive tents.  I asked why the cops weren't chasing them out of the park - as they were clearly in violation of the law.  "Well, two of our idiot councilmen want to let them stay there - they sympathize with 'em.  So the cops are going easy.  Pretty stupid if you ask me."

The spot I chose from which to shoot my photo is right next to this kiosk, at the gateway to downtown Tucson.  I'm sure the scene I witnessed from this spot is not what the Chamber of Commerce had in mind when it created the sign.   We left downtown to head out Mission Road to our all time favorite Mexican Restaurant, Karichimaka.  It's been there since we were all in college and nothing has changed - except us.  At the same time that we were enjoying our cheese crisps and Dos Equis- we later learned -the police had moved into Parque 20 de Agosto and arrested six people for drunkenness and fighting over the tents.  I am not surprised. And I am not going back.  These are bad apples using the Occupy movement to break the law.  These people don't represent Tucson.

Occupy Chicago - A Horse of a Different Color

One Sunday in November, before we left Chicago, I wandered down to Grant Park.  Well I didn't exactly wander.  I went there purposely, seeking the Chicago Occupiers, who gather  by the horse statue in Congress Plaza.  Actually, the statue depicted is The Bowman, one of two bronze statues installed in 1928 and created by Ivan Mestrovic.  The other is called The Spearman and both were commissioned to honor Native Americans.  If I had trusted the media, I would have been wary of an unruly mob.  Having visited with the Occupiers at Jackson and LaSalle, I knew better, but wasn't sure if they had continued to maintain their cool. 

What ensued was a lot less rowdy than some  high school graduations I've attended.  They had a speaker, a well known university professor, who is an expert in housing.  As she spoke, through a portable megaphone, the crowd reacted not with loud cheers and boos - but by raising their hands and wiggling their fingers - a silent yeah or nay.  Speakers from the crowd were given the opportunity to respond, or add, to the speaker's remarks.  Everyone was respectful of the platform and the other speakers.  I closed my eyes and pictured these folks in suits and ties and I was back in an educational seminar at work.  What?

note the CPD in background

I had a lengthy conversation with a very young woman and a man older than I am.  I asked why the media hadn't picked up on the peaceful nature of the Chicago group - as they had the lawlessness and confrontational nature of groups in other cities.  This time, I was quoted from Gandhi.  I hope I don't  mess this up, but I failed to write it down.  Something like..."First they ignore  you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you and then you win." 

They had games and artsy activities for children and a big chalk drawn sign saying "Keep Your Kids Occupied".  They claim to have no leaders, but the whole thing was so damn organized that I find it hard to believe.  If you think they're not organized, check out their website  http://occupychi.org/
Their calendar abounds in educational events as well as action oriented gatherings.  It's not just about corporate greed any more.

I asked if they had a problem with the homeless joining in and creating disturbances as they have in other cities.   They said they welcome everyone.  They also said when they do encounter the mentally ill or addicted homeless, they deliver them to where they can get help.   I didn't see any out of control, or obviously homeless people.  The crowd is still pretty diverse and seems to be growing.

 I'm sitting here in Tucson reading the New York Times recap of the arrests and evictions in  places like Atlanta, Boston, Burlington, Vt., Denver, L.A., Oakland, Portland, Ore., Salt Lake City and St. Louis.  I am hoping that the Chicago Occupiers are staying on higher ground and sticking to their theories of peace and inclusion.   On the other hand, I hope  they don't get too corporate.  They may succumb to the things they claim to protest.

Five More Days

I am urging everyone to vote on Tuesday.  I know some of these guys are not worthy and it is hard to tell one from the other in many cases.  Don't let the bad guys win (on both sides) by not voting.  If you are in any one of many polarized groups I'm sure you know who you're going to vote for.  If not, and you still want to do some fact checking, a good website to check out.


http://www.politifact.com/


They appear to be neutral and give you a quick glimpse of what people have said and given each statement a rating of true, mostly true, half true, half false, mostly false, false or liar, liar pants on fire.

It's quick, easy and to the point.  A Pulitzer Prize winning website.  Go for it.

Here's a link to my previous post on the election.
http://lynncrawfordsays.blogspot.com/2010/10/only-13-more-days-to-endure-this.html

I'm not going to try to tell you how to vote.  JUST VOTE!

Only 13 More Days to Endure This.................

Get these damn elections over with in Illinois.  Don't our Illinois candidates realize that most of us have stopped listening and watching and reading? At this point, they are pouring their advertising dollars down a rat hole.  We've been subjected to this since right after Labor Day and before I stopped listening and watching I didn't hear one positive message or one practical solution to any of our problems.  And don't they realize how much name recognition they're giving their opponents? I do intend to vote because it is our right, our privilege and our duty.  How will I choose?

Do I vote for the honest incompetent or he slick shady one?

How about it- the liar or the loser?

Then there is the proven crook vs. the smoke and mirrors "reformer".

Maybe I'll vote for anyone:

•   who's never held office before
•   who's not been endorsed by the Trib
•   who's a woman, or Irish, or Jewish
•   with a hyphenated name
•   who didn't grow up in Chicagoland
•   physically unattractive
•   who has spent less than $1,000. on advertising

Or I could just blindfold myself and point the pen where it wants to go.  We need a more civilized way of choosing our elected officials.  9 months is a nice time frame for having a baby.  It is waaaaaay too long to have between a primary and a general election. And Joe citizen should not be "electing" our judges.  By the way, in the judicial races I always vote for women.  On the  retention of judges I always vote "no".

                                       
I think you get the idea.  The only winners in these races are the ad agencies and the television stations.  As usual, we, the voters in Illinois are the losers.