Occupy Wall Street

Over the course of the last few weeks, there have been Americans exercising their right to protest in New York and other cities around the country. People who have risen up to voice their opposition to the corporate greed that infects this nation and has destroyed millions of families, their lives and livelihoods.

The response by the GOP is, in my opinion, appalling. Somehow though, I'm not surprised. They are after all, Republicans.

Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Eric Cantor, et al are "increasingly concerned about the 'growing mobs' represented at the protests," accuse the protesters of engaging in "class warfare," even going so far as to claim that they are "pitting Americans against Americans." My favorite, from that esteemed GOP Presidential candidate Herman Cain: "Don't blame Wall Street, don't blame the big banks..." Perish the thought Herman. After all, they're not the ones who reaped billions of dollars over the last decade at the cost of everyday Americans.

This coming from the God's Own Party. That staunch group of hypocritical, chest thumping citizens, who piously wrap themselves in the flag and scream at the top of their lungs that we must return to the roots of our Founding Fathers. All the while, ignoring one of the basic tenants of that esteemed group of men, who put their lives, families and livelihoods on the line; the right to discard the shackles of tyranny and PROTEST. One simply cannot ignore the irony.

Thomas Jefferson said it best "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

Has the time arrived? The Occupy Wall Street protests prove there are thousands of patriots and there's no question that there are plenty of tyrants to go around. Personally, I believe the tree is in dire need of refreshing. I would prefer to avoid bloodshed and see it refreshed through our democratic process. With the rampant corruption of our political system and the state of affairs in America today; with the inequities that exist and the repugnant lack of any semblance of a social conscience on the part of the GOP; that may no longer be possible.