Occupy Portland has been hijacked. Try another approach

America watched with interest – and thousands joined in – when some of the “Occupy” movements took shape. It happened as Wall Street continued to fail us and Bank of America's threat to raise debit card fees fanned the flames. One percent of Americans own 40 percent of the wealth. Unemployment is higher than we've seen in generations. Homes are underwater, through no fault of most of the people who could afford the mortgages they earned. People are plain fed-up.

“The 99%” resonated with average people. There was something “there” in the unrest that brought so many together.

Then the “movement” turned a corner and average Americans are turning their backs. They're sick of it. They would not mind if it's not the lead story on the news tonight.

Most of the images we have seen lately are negative. There are mixed messages, there is no united front and the only consistent activity seems to be disgusting crimes and sanitation issues.

The problem is particularly bad in Portland. There is no leadership in the movement. Attempts to bring in legitimate groups with track records for making positive change are admirable-- but failing. Jobs for Justice and Oregon Banks Local have proposed some effective solutions worth consideration. But every time they try to speak, there's a heckler in front of the camera hurling insults and worse at the watching public.

Things get worse here because city hall has failed to manage this. The police are trying to manage the problem alone.

The answers we need can't be found in a muddy park packed with tents. Anyone with legitimate concerns or answers, should move on and regroup. Americans are hungry for what you have to give, but you're not being heard because “the 80%” of your companions have ruined your movement.

LOL and crying all the way FROM the bank. How Bank Transfer Day brought the big banks to their knees

There is something positively delicious about that fact the moxie of a California woman and 400,000 Social Media connections are doing what President Obama, Federal regulators and Congress cannot: holding the big banks accountable for creating the economic collapse.

Kristen Christian decided enough was enough when Bank of America announced plans to punish consumers who use their debit cards to make purchases. She created a Facebook page and encouraged fed up consumers to pull their money out of big banks on or before November 5th. She advocates doing business with locally operated financial institutions such as community banks or credit unions.
Nearly 70,000 people said “OK” and her invitation has been shared amongst Facebook fans nearly 400,000 times.

“Occupy Wall Street” hasn't had the same impact. I have yet to see any media reports putting a human face on who is participating or really why; most of the coverage focuses on how many have been arrested and how taxpayers will clean up the poop when it's over.

“Bank Transfer Day” is better thought out. We understand the frustration and we know what we can do about it. Credit unions are reporting so much new account activity, many are expanding their hours leading up to November 5th.

Now the big banks are “reconsidering” the debit card charges. Do you believe them? To me, it's like believing a drug addict who promises to quit. Or the cheating spouse who wants “one more chance.” The big banks had many more chances.

First there was the big bailout. How did they spend their T.A.R.P. funds? Then there was the loan modification program. That worked (not!). Now the administration has announced a new plan to help homeowners whose mortgages are underwater. As far as I can tell, it benefits only those with Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac backed mortgages – and let's see if it even works for them! There are no programs and there is no forgiveness for those of us who got loans we could afford, but have since seen our property values plunge.

“Accountability has been mostly A.W.O.L. In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis,” reported The New York Times, the newspaper the media haters love to brand “liberal.” A column in Sunday's paper notes that the plan to hold financial institutions accountable for foreclosure misconduct, isn't expected to sting them much.

I grew up believing after the mistakes of the Great Depression, an economic downfall would not be likely. All of the checks and balances, the safeguards, the regulation, the trust, the systems put into place to allow Americans to earn and save – it's mostly broken.

So I applaud the actions of a single person who took her frustration to social media and invited Americans to participate in Bank Transfer Day. It's got the big banks in retreat and that is as good as it gets.