Occupy the Desert

Sign in Banff National Park, Canada

I'm generally a political atheist, but on November 2, this coming Wednesday, I plan to join the General Strike in support of the Occupy Wall Street Movement. I'm not going to do any work, nor am I going to buy anything.

Since I don't think I'll even notice the difference (yet alone anyone else notice), I think I'll take it one step further and not consume anything except a little bit of food—which means no driving, which I will for sure notice, since I like to get out every day, now that I've found cheap winter quarters and am no longer camping.

In addition, I'm going to take my mega-riches (about $200) out of my corporate bank and put it under my mattress—as soon as I can figure out how to do that without having to buy a mattress (I'm still using my camping cot). Maybe a dog bed could substitute.

I dropped out of the system years ago (as much as I could, anyway)—I think the first step is to not want to own anything, especially not a house.

Once you get over wanting things, you feel better, and you realize that freedom is more desirable than any object. As the wise old Buddha supposedly said, "Attachment is the root of all misery" (or something like that).

So, on Wednesday, I'm going to stage my own protest against corporate greed and government corruption by having my own protest. I'll call it Occupy the Desert. You're welcome to join me, but I have to get out there on Tuesday, since I'm not going to drive on Wednesday, so plan ahead.

In the meantime, have a happy Halloween. I'm going to dress up as the Ghost of the Middle Class.

A Patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government. —Ed Abbey