I give a lot of credit to the band of protesters who are camped out in New York City. (Occupy Wall Street) They are showing courage and leadership where everyone else in this country is just failing.
It really is a sad commentary on our press and our country in general when the press will not report on this.
There have been courageous leaders in this country once or twice before:
Shays’ Rebellion saw some of its opening salvos in Central Massachusetts, in the town of Uxbridge, in Worcester County, on Feb. 3, 1783.[2][3] Gov. John Hancock suppressed local riots, after a request by Colonel Nathan Tyler of Uxbridge.[2][3] Lieutenant Simeon Wheelock, of the Town of Uxbridge died at Springfield, in 1786, while on duty, protecting the Armory.[4] Shays’s Rebellion caused George Washington to emerge from retirement to advocate a stronger national government.[5]
The financial situation leading to the rebellion included the problem that European war investors (among others) demanded payment in gold and silver; there was not enough specie in the states, including Massachusetts, to pay the debts; and throughout the state, wealthy urban businessmen were trying to squeeze whatever assets they could get out of rural smallholders. Since the smallholders did not have the gold that the creditors demanded, everything they had was confiscated, including their houses.[6]
At a meeting convened by aggrieved commoners, a farmer, Plough Jogger, encapsulated the situation:
“I have been greatly abused, have been obliged to do more than my part in the war, been loaded with class rates, town rates, province rates, Continental rates and all rates…been pulled and hauled by sheriffs, constables and collectors, and had my cattle sold for less than they were worth…The great men are going to get all we have and I think it is time for us to rise and put a stop to it, and have no more courts, nor sheriffs, nor collectors nor lawyers.”
