Fracturing Glass

A lot has happened since my last post... which I had intended to revise, but now will not. I have learned much since then. If you haven't heard about the events of Friday, November 18th at UC Davis, simply drop by YouTube and search "UC Davis", or just click here. Warning: The video is rather intense.
Another video you may find worth your time is The Calm After The Storm (featuring yours truly).
Since then, I have been neck-deep in this movement. It's unlike anything I've ever experienced. I'm sure many will just read this as me "raging against the machine" as a cousin of mine described during Thanksgiving dinner, so feel free to give me some feedback with your perspective.

The way I see it, things are changing. I mean that in the broadest, most significant way possible. Syria and Libya have been completely overthrown. Italy has elected an entirely new government. Egypt has completely overhauled its government, and Israel as declared that it's going to act against Iran, whose government has openly been threatening the existence of Israel for years.

And beyond all of that, the U.S.'s social structure is fracturing more every WEEK, in much the same manner as glass cracks when too much force is applied. Occupy Wall Street has accrued over 4,000 arrests. That is absolutely absurd, and the disconnect between the information generation and the rest of the world is becoming more and more apparent with each passing week.

The event that happened in Davis was recorded by an absurd number of people, and shortly thereafter, the protests at Berkeley went absolutely nuts. Google was inundated with over 700 requests by the government to remove the videos of police brutality.

Google declined.
Under normal circumstances, I'm sure Google would have removed those videos; they are rather violent, but as a private corporation, they may provide their service in whatever manner they see fit. The government may try to pass laws restricting them, but I don't see this as a realistic possibility; the companies who fund politicians rely far too much on the information and advertising mastery of Google.
I thank capitalism for Google's alligiance to this and other occupy movements; indeed, we are their audience and customers.

I don't see Chancellor Katehi as a bad person... I see her as wholly disconnected (or was) from what was happening on campus and completely ignorant of the true nature or ramifications of her actions (and/or inaction/s). I have similar views about the Regents of the U.C.
They aren't malicious, simply ignorant.
The woman IS responsible for the entire university, but does not WORK FOR the entire university. By this, I mean that she was appointed to her position by the regents of the U.C., who were appointed by the regents, who were appointed by the governor (with TWELVE year terms). I expect every worker to work for whomever gets him/her his/her job. Those in public office who get their job directly because of the people will serve the people. So how many of them do? Be realistic.
Can a congressman or senator be elected directly through the people? Would one who tried have a chance against those who sell out to companies who fund their election (and/or re-election) campaigns and get tons of money for advertising, etc.?
Who gets these people their jobs? Whom do they serve?
I don't blame them. The ones who actually want to serve the people don't stand a chance.
The chancellor-candidates who would rather cater to the university students, staff, and faculty than the regents will not get chosen by the regents to become chancellor. In a corporate structure, this is great; CEOs are held accountable to their investors and shareholders. In public office, administrators need to be held directly accountable to whomever they are expected to serve. Yes, serve. That's how a democracy works.
I'm sure some will read this who believe that one who has earned a lot more money is perfectly justified in having a heavier hand in the government. To those, I ask to describe the difference between democracy and aristocracy, and which you prefer.

The influence is spreading. With each passing year, people are realizing how exempt they aren't from the same issues that are peoples' reasons to protest all over the country.
Around me I see college students still convinced that those directly affected by all of these issues are a minority... people who think that working diligently through these years will get them that degree and a job and be successful. For some reason, those who have graduated (and aren't in some graduate or professional school) seem to generally disagree. The burden of loans and the dilution of education are going to hit most people in public universities harder than I think they realize.

Not to worry... those who are spearheading these movements are well educated and well aware.
Those coming out of college aren't necessarily any dumber than those who graduated in the 60's or 70's, when public education was so much more affordable (and even free), but they are in much worse financial situations, both in terms of credit and chances of getting a job (ANY job, let alone the one they want)... and slowly more people are starting to realize this... and they are very upset about it.

I've noticed that talks of the upcoming presidential elections have quieted down quite a bit. Either this is just a calm in the 'cycle of the media', as I have been suggested, or the candidates simply have no idea how to address the foreboding shift of the attitude of the country, like a large structure that is beginning to sway. Will it fall? No idea... but at this point, the smartest thing they can do is watch, wait, and see.

This is going to be one HELL of an election year.