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Bullwhip Lessons Offer Unique Valentine’s Day Gift

In Business, Entertainment, Local News, Media, National News, State News, Uncategorized on January 4, 2012 at 11:05 am

“Writer, entertainer Gery L. Deer of Jamestown is offering a unique Valentine’s Day gift idea – Bullwhip Lessons!”

Jamestown, Ohio – Since its inception, men and women have struggled to find the perfect Valentine’s Day gift, often settling for the tired triad of dinner, flowers and candy. Shared activities, however, are enjoyed by both and remembered far longer than some clichéd gift.

One Ohio-based performing arts studio urges couples to forget ballroom dancing and horse-drawn carriage rides this Valentine’s Day and try something new – bullwhip lessons. For the fifth year, The Whip Artistry Studio based in Jamestown, Ohio, is offering special bullwhip handling lessons designed just for couples.

“Whip artistry” is a relatively new concept applied to an ancient skill. The term refers to the use of a bullwhip or stock whip, not just to crack it and make a loud noise, but for precision sport and performance art.

The Whip Artistry Studio opened in 1998 as the only full-time, permanent facility in the United States dedicated to the study of whip arts. The studio is the home base of the Society of American Whip Artistry and operates like a creative arts center, providing certified individual or group lessons and stage performances.

Each year, individuals, couples and even entire families come to The Whip Artistry Studio to learn the whip for fun and sport. Most are hobbyists who are just interested in learning a unique skill. Others are professional performers and stage entertainers who want to add the whip to their repertoire.

Couple’s bullwhip lessons starts with a quick safety overview and covers the basics of whip artistry. Contrary to what one might think, the couple does not crack the whip at each other nor is it used in any dangerous manner. Instead the couple shares a unique experience and learns a new skill together.

Gery L. Deer, an independent writer and nationally-known whip artistry performer and instructor, is the studio’s managing director. “Whips have been around in some form for thousands of years,” says Deer. “They are a fun, precision tool for sport and entertainment and a great activity for couples and families to share; akin to archery, fencing and target shooting.”

An award-winning whip artist of 20 plus years, Deer has coached and performed around the country including Dayton’s Victoria Theatre as well as national television programs like The Bonnie Hunt Show and NBC’s America’s Got Talent. He also develops whip-holstering equipment and specialty training for movie studios and theatrical companies.

Deer says, “Similar to ballroom dancing, whip artistry is learned in steps with basic techniques branching into precision movement. It really is a unique and entertaining activity, and much safer than people might expect.” In addition to training, The Whip Artistry Studio also supplies custom-designed whip accessories for stage, film and television productions.

Couple’s whip lessons start at $85.00 for 90-minutes, including equipment rental. Individual lessons are also available at a reduced cost during this promotion. To get the special rates, a deposit is required and reservations must be made by Tuesday, February 13th,but the actual lesson can be scheduled for any date. Studio hours vary and all activities are by appointment only. For more information go online to The Whip Artistry Studio website http://www.thewhipstudio.com or call (937) 902-4857.

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Was Verizon Payment Fee A Publicity Stunt?

In Business, Economy, Local News, Media, National News, Opinion, Uncategorized on January 2, 2012 at 11:14 pm

By Gery L. Deer

Deer In Headlines

In November of 2011, a consumer backlash led Bank of America to scrap plans for a monthly, $5 fee levied on all debit card users. Customers took to social media like Facebook and Twitter, berating the company for punishing the middle class with nickel and dime fees.

On average, the lower and middle classes are the largest group of debit card users. But what if another company, seeing the tremendous amount of free media attention bestowed on Bank of America, decided to try the same thing?

In December, Verizon Wireless attempted to stick customers with a $2 fee for paying bills either online or by telephone. Most experts agree that these services are used primarily by those who either pay at the last minute or late. According to Bloomberg writer Alex Sherman in a January 1st story, Verizon, “It would add the fee to address costs it incurs for processing the single payments.”

Within moments of the announcement, however, customers began railing against the proposal through social media and online discussion boards. By December 30th, less than 72 hours after the fee announcement was released, Verizon Wireless, the largest cellular wireless carrier in the United States, scrapped the entire plan.

In a public statement, Dan Mead, chief executive officer of Verizon Wireless said, “The best path forward is to encourage customers to take advantage of the best and most efficient options, eliminating the need to institute the fee at this time.”

It should be noted that Verizon Communications, one of two parent firms that owns the wireless giant, experienced 12 percent growth over the last year. The company employees more than 83,000 workers nationwide and services approximately 90 million customers.

The consistently volatile economy has made consumers more sensitive to overcharging, particularly by major corporations. Based on what happened with Bank of America, it’s hard to imagine that Verizon executives wouldn’t have predicted a similar, overwhelmingly negative response? Or maybe that was their plan all along.

While no evidence exists to support such a statement, there are those who are speculating that the fee and its subsequent elimination were little more than a publicity stunt. Theorists imagine that Verizon executives and marketing wizards were inspired by the staggering amount of free media coverage Bank of America as a result of the ATM fee debacle.

Where Bank of America was concerned, it’s unlikely that executives were concerned about losing customers. Sitting atop an industry that already had its share of bad press and facing legal troubles over bad mortgages, it’s far more likely the financial behemoth backed down to minimize the amount of negative attention they were getting. In this case, bad press was only making things worse.

Similarly, under attack for excessive and often hidden fees, Verizon has been getting some equally bad press. But they may have decided to see if they could make the negative media work to their benefit by creating a situation wherein they would end up the good guys. It’s possible they may have even initiated the aggressive social media barrage on their own accord just to prime the proverbial pump and get people talking about it.

Going on the old adage, “there’s no such thing as bad publicity,” the company might never have intended to charge the fee in the first place – unless no one complained. If that had happened, they could simply apply the fee where stated, rake in millions in extra revenue, and maintain business as usual with the public none the wiser. They really couldn’t lose either way.

Could the stunt have cost them customers? Maybe, but the number would have been insignificant compared to the amount of free, national media coverage that, in the end, painted a bright, sunny picture of a big corporation that listened to the little people.

Consumers need to be smarter than to think a multi-billion-dollar corporation is really going to be so responsive, regardless of how many people Tweet about them. They are all in the business to make money and as long as they have what the buying public needs, they will continue to do so, unfair fees and all.
Gery L. Deer is an independent columnist based in Jamestown. More information available at http://www.gerydeer.com.

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Well-Fed Writer Packs Fairborn Community Center

In Business, Economy, Entertainment, Local News, Media, National News, State News, Uncategorized on December 30, 2011 at 1:13 pm

Award-winning author Peter Bowerman speaking to members of the Western Ohio Writers Association at the Fairborn Community Center.

FAIRBORN, OH – On December 29th, aspiring freelance writers packed the Fairborn Community Center for the opportunity to meet veteran commercial writer Peter Bowerman, author of the award-winning book, The Well-Fed Writer. The Atlanta-based author and business coach spoke Thursday evening about the perils and promise of breaking into the lucrative field of commercial freelance writing.

A commercial freelance writer is someone who his hired to write material such as marketing literature, human resources documentation, and ghost writing projects.  “In today’s downsized business world, companies of all sizes outsource many writing tasks to well-paid freelancers,” Bowerman says.
Bowerman’s appearance was sponsored by the Western Ohio Writers Association (WOWA), a creative arm of GLD Enterprises Commercial Writing in Jamestown. The group provides networking and educational opportunities to writers of all genres, living and working in southwest-central Ohio.  Writers attend monthly critique sessions to hone their writing skills through peer feedback, networking opportunities and educational presentations.

For nearly two hours, and to a full house, Bowerman shared his experiences about commercial writing; what it is, why it makes sense to embark on a career in this industry now, how to build a portfolio, how to find work, what to charge, and much more.

“The work is out there and a talented writer could earn anywhere from $50 to $125 per hour,” he says, with his passion for the job clearly visible in his presentation style. He cautions aspiring freelancers, however.

“Freelancing is not a get rich quick scheme or a multilevel marketing scam; this is hard work that you have to do yourself.” After the presentation, Bowerman spent the remainder of his time signing books and talking with the audience.

Western Ohio Writers Association meetings are held from 7PM until 10PM on the first Thursday of each month at the Fairborn Community Center. Meetings are $2 per person to attend and open to the public, but RSVP’s are requested.

The next session is scheduled for Thursday, January 5th. For more information, visit www.westernohiowriters.org or call (937) 902-4857. The Fairborn Community Center is not responsible for the management or content of events hosted by the Western Ohio Writers Association.

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Beware Sunny Government Statistics

In Business, Economy, Jobs, Local News, National News, Opinion on December 20, 2011 at 10:10 am

DEER IN HEADLINES

By Gery L. Deer

According to government reports, unemployment and foreclosure figures are showing all the signs of an improving economy. In November, USA Today reported the national unemployment average fell to 8.6 percent, down from 9 percent in October. Similarly, according to government accounts, foreclosure filings appear to have decreased over the last year as well. Those numbers seem to vary, depending on the source.

The problem with these statistics is that they often ignore important information showing that, what looks like economic recovery is actually a lie of omission. Take the unemployment reports, for example.

As the economy worsened and more people lost jobs those already unemployed became less hopeful of finding work. Many simply stopped reporting their unemployment status for whatever reason and at that point were no longer included in the statistics.

Over time, more and more people who have been out of work for a long period of time stop going back to the unemployment office. As benefits come to an end and with no job potential on the horizon, people either just stop filing or take part time work to put food on the table.

The underemployed are also omitted from the statistics. Underemployed people are those who have taken whatever work they can find but who may have once earned a higher salary in a more suitable position. An underemployed person could be an architect, for example, who takes a seasonal, general labor job on a construction crew.

Housing statistics can be manipulated in a similar fashion, to show improvement where none yet exists. Listen carefully to how this data is reported. Generally the wording is something like, “The White House reported today that foreclosure filings were down last month …” and so on. The number of filings may have decreased but there are many reasons for that.

According to the real estate website, RealtyTrac.Com, an average of one in every 500Ohiohousing units is in foreclosure. In most states, foreclosure filings are expected to increase, not drop, as the government stats seem to report. Some homes, purchased as foreclosed properties over the last couple of years are in foreclosure again, adding to the problem.

Additionally, within a given region, usually there is a finite number of pre-existing homes, and a particular segment of those whose mortgages have fallen into default. At some point, the market hits a peak where there are no more homes to foreclose on and the number of filings actually drops, but the problem still exists.

Then, while the White House reports “fudged” housing figures, one of the government’s pinnacle villains in the housing crisis is talking out of the other side of its mouth. Freddie Mac reported a noted increase in foreclosure filings in November. The agency estimates that it will take more than 15 years to relieve the burden of foreclosed property inventory.

The point here is that, especially in an election year, government officials will “spin” facts and figures to paint as positive a picture as possible to help keep everyone in their offices. “Spin,” is when the communications officers and public relations directors word the facts in a way that benefits the originator in some way.

Everyone wants credit for making things better and getting people back to work. Unfortunately, short of drafting people and creating more beaurocratic offices, the government doesn’t create jobs – only private industry can do that.

For the public, the only way to be certain of the facts is to go look them up at the source. Looking at the data in its raw form can help shed light on the facts, without the media hype and government spin.

Gery L. Deer is an independent business writer and columnist based in Jamestown, Ohio. Read more at http://www.deerinheadlines.com.

 

 

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The Well-Fed Writer, Peter Bowerman to Speak In Fairborn

In Business, Economy, Entertainment, Local News, Media, National News, Uncategorized on December 20, 2011 at 12:03 am

Award-winning author Peter Bowerman will speak at 7 p.m., Thursday December 29th at the Fairborn Community Center.

FAIRBORN, OH– In today’s downsized business world, companies of all sizes outsource many writing tasks to well-paid freelancers. In his award-winning book, The Well-Fed Writer, veteran commercial writer Peter Bowerman offers insights to potential freelancers on how to develop a thriving and profitable career writing for the business community.

On Thursday, December 29th, aspiring freelancers in the Miami Valley will have the opportunity to meet the author and learn from Bowerman’s experience, in his own words, when he comes to Fairborn as a special guest speaker of the Western Ohio Writers Association. The Georgia-based author will speak and sign books from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Fairborn Community Center,1076 Kauffman Ave. Fairborn, Ohio45324.

Titled, Goodbye Starving Writer! Breaking into the Lucrative Field of Commercial Freelancing, in the presentation Bowerman asks, “What if you could write and make $50 to $100 per hour, or more, and give yourself the time to pursue your ‘passion writing’?” Participants will learn from the author’s experience what commercial writing is, why it makes sense to embark on a career in this industry now, how to build a portfolio, how to find work, what to charge, and much more.

The event is open to the public. Attendance is $2 per person and RSVP is required online at http://www.westernohiowriters.org or by calling 937-902-4857. In the spirit of the holiday season, books and CD-Roms will be available on-site at a 25-percent discount.

Gery L. Deer is the director of the WOWA and a professional commercial writer. “Our organization is about education and enhancing the skills and opportunities available to writers in our region,” he says. “I have used Mr. Bowerman’s book, The Well-Fed Writer, for nearly a year and it has provided me with a great reference for my commercial writing business so when he contacted me and expressed an interest in speaking, we did everything possible to make it happen.”

The Western Ohio Writers Association is based in Greene County and provides networking and educational opportunities to writers of all genres, living and working in southwest-central Ohio.  Writers attend monthly critique sessions to hone their writing skills through peer feedback, networking opportunities and educational presentations. Regular meetings are held from 7PM until 10PM on the first Thursday of each month at the Fairborn Community Center.

The WOWA is a creative division of GLD Enterprises Commercial Writing with facilities support provided by theFairbornCommunity Center. For more information or to RSVP for this event, visit http://www.westernohiowriters.org or call (937) 902-4857.

 

 

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Self-Published Authors Making Their Mark

In Business, Economy, Entertainment, Local News, Media, Opinion, Uncategorized on December 13, 2011 at 10:41 pm

By Gery L. Deer

Deer In Headlines

 

Once upon a time, writers who chose to publish their own work were thought simply as “not good enough” to make it as an author. Today self-publishing is rapidly becoming, not only a viable alternative to the snail-paced publishing process, but also allows authors to keep more of their money that once went to agents and publishers.

As one might expect, the talents of the writer play the most valuable role in getting a book from concept to publication. However, in mainstream publishing, there is also a fair amount of luck and back-door politics involved in an author’s success or failure. Generally unknown to the general public, or to beginning writers, traditional publishing is one of the most subjective processes in business.

In traditional publishing, often referred to as “royalty-based publishing,” getting a book to the shelves is a very long, disheartening endeavor. Once a manuscript is completed, the author must spend a great deal of time researching agents and publishers then send queries to each, hoping for a positive response or at least some feedback.

This is done over again many times – sometimes for years – until either the author gives up or they get an offer from an agent or publisher to move forward. If the manuscript is finally picked up by a publisher, it can take as long as two years to get it to market. In the meantime, the author will receive some kind of advanced payment against potential sales of the book.

The author also loses a great deal of control over the manuscript. Drastic changes can occur in editing, cover art or even the story itself, all of which are necessary evils in the business of publishing – if the author wants to be a commercial success and write for a living.

Even though many people have never heard of self-publishing, the concept has been around for hundreds of years. Over the last century, business professionals and corporations often self-published books and other literature designed to demonstrate expertise in a particular business, product or industry. Authoring a book generates a certain level of public credibility, in turn, building the potential for greater earning power.

Originally referred to as “vanity publishing,” self-publishing provides authors with a faster route to getting their work out to the public while also giving them complete control over the product.

Writers who choose the self-publishing method have some major challenges to accept above and beyond completing a polished manuscript. The first challenge they face is the editing process. A lack of good editing is a major mistake made by many self-publishers, particularly those who are unwilling to allow anyone else to review or critique their work; which is one reason some writers choose this way to publication in the first place.

Critical editing is vital to gaining credibility once the book is marketed. If it looks amateurish, the author will not be taken seriously. If that is done well, then the author must choose a printing method, either online or using a brick-and-mortar press house. Printing the book is one of the greater expenses, averaging around $2,000 for about 100 copies of a typical paperback.

Next comes the ‘business’ end of publishing, an area where most writers have little experience. Self-publishing also means self-marketing and promotion. The author will have to become the person who actually sells the book. It will be his or her task to develop a marketing plan and promote the book through advertising and public relations activities.

If all of that comes together, the author might be able to grow a grass-roots following at the local level and start selling their book. Many self-published authors are now getting the attention of large publishing houses and major book deals. Supporting local authors by purchasing their books can help the economy and encourage literacy in the community.

As independent writers gain credibility and build a following, they also generate millions of dollars in revenue for themselves and on-demand publishers doing short print runs. So this holiday season, buy local and read local.

 

Interested in local authors? Visit http://www.gerydeer.com and click on the Bookstore link.

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Super Committee Failure Not Surprising

In Business, Economy, Jobs, National News, Opinion, Politics, Uncategorized on November 22, 2011 at 12:42 am

By Gery L. Deer

Deer In Headlines

President Obama announced this week the abject failure of the so-called congressional Super Committee, which had originally supposed to hammer out a bi-partisan deal to cut the deficit by a whopping $1.2 trillion. Following the announcement, the president told reporters, “Despite the broad agreement that exists for such an approach, there are still too many Republicans in Congress that have refused to listen to the voices of reason and compromise that are coming from outside of Washington.”

Another typical Obama move; when in doubt, blame the other side. It seems the president has forgotten the definition of the word, “compromise,” wherein both sides need to give and take. They must not teach that concept at Harvard Law.

By definition, a committee is a group of people with differing ideas who are charged to work together towards a common goal. Whether it is made up of government officials or members of the local parent-teacher organization, committees generally produce more problems than they solve. Super-size the typical ineffectiveness of any committee, particularly one made up of bickering, self-aggrandizing members of congress, and the result is at minimum counterproductive and at most disastrous.

Given the poor history of compromise between the Democrats and Republicans in recent years, any attempt at a cooperative group was doomed to failure before it was commissioned. Unfortunately, congressional representatives are far more concerned with gaining political points and winning the day than solvingAmerica’s debt problems.

With the next election barely 11 months away, Republicans are firmly against pretty much anything the Democrats have proposed in the way of budget cuts, primarily because most plans involve tax increases. Conservative committee members insist that higher taxes will increase the burden on the average citizen and cause the country’s economy to backslide.

So what will happen next? Since the committee was unable to meet the deadline for the deficit reduction plan, programs like Medicare will experience automatic cuts in funding. Payments to Medicare providers, for example, will be cut by 2 percent across the board by 2013. Government sources state, however, that expenditures to beneficiaries of the program will be unaffected.

Additionally, the affect on general economic growth is, at this point, incalculable. As the country’s debt rises, it’s overall fiscal worth declines. As an example, as news of the super committee’s ineffectiveness spread over the last several days, Wall Street experienced general overall losses, with the Dow, down, 248 points on Monday.

Inaction on the part of the committee only serves to reinforce the idea that neither Congress nor the West Wing is up to current economic challenges. So far nothing has been done to even encourage long-term business and financial growth and spur job creation. Temporary fixes are not going to carry the country through a recession that is constantly on the verge of resurgence.

And, while the White House is responsible for pushing bad programs onto the Democrats in Congress and leveraging future cooperation to get them approved, it’s up to the legislature to determine the benefits, or the lack thereof, to their constituents. Apparently, common sense is not part of the job descriptions inWashington. Only those capable of double-dealing, back-room politics and cold-heartedness need apply.

Considering all of that, at the end of the day, each and every bad decision made by government officials are actually the final responsibility and fault of the American people because they were elected by the short-sighted, easily coerced voter. Winston Churchill said, “Democracy is the worst form of government; except for all the rest.”

He couldn’t have been more correct. A government by the people has a pitfall for every promise. As long as Americans keep sending the same kinds of self-serving, greedy, power-hungry people toWashington, positive change is highly unlikely.

Gery L. Deer is an independent business writer and columnist based in Jamestown, Ohio. Read more at http://www.deerinheadlines.com

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CENTERVILLE COIN & JEWELRY CONNECTION TO HOST TRIESTE CORDOVA OF NE’QWA ART FOR GLASS-PAINTING CLASS

In Business, Entertainment, Local News, Senior Lifestyle, Uncategorized on November 16, 2011 at 1:56 pm

CENTERVILLE, OH – Centerville Coin & Jewelry Connection will host a personal appearance on December 1, 2011, by

Ne’Qwa Art National Director and demonstration artist Trieste Cordova

Art National Director and demonstration artist Trieste Cordova.

As a representative for Ne’Qwa Art, Cordova travels to stores throughout the year demonstrating reverse painting on glass, a centuries-old art technique that is practiced only by a very few, highly skilled painters. She will be traveling to more than twenty stores this fall answering questions about Ne’Qwa Art and its line of mouth-blown glass decorative accessories.

Cordova will first meet with collectors at a luncheon from 12 – 1 p.m., then will teach the art of reverse-painting on glass in a workshop from 1 – 3 p.m. The luncheon and workshop will be held at Savona Restaurant, 79 W. Main St., Centerville.

Later in the day from 4 – 7 p.m., Cordova will sign ornamental Ne’Qwa pieces at Centerville Coin & Jewelry Connection, 38 W. Franklin St, Centerville, OH.

Centerville Coin & Jewelry Connection is one of a selected few retailers in the United States to host this signature event. All Ne’Qwa ornaments purchased at the event, or pre-purchased through Centerville Coin & Jewelry Connection may be signed, and clients will be allowed a signature on one piece brought from home.

After nearly four decades and four generations, Centerville Coin & Jewelry Connection has become the largest coin shop in the Dayton area with more than 4,000 square feet of coins, gifts, jewelry and collectibles.

The family operated shop offers design and repair, customized engraving services, watch battery replacement and refurbishment, personal shopper and corporate gift giving services, school and community fund-raising. Appraisal services are also available.

A fine source of unique gifts, the store offers something for everyone and every occasion. Some of their popular product lines include Lula Bell Art & Designs, Swarovski, Chamilia, Robeez, Kameleon, Stephanie Dawn, Ugly Dolls, Ne’Qwa, Willow Tree, Ne’Qwa, Spartina 449, Poo~Pourri, Lolita and Root Candles.

Admission to the signing is free and open to the public. For more information contact Leslie Marsh, Centerville Coin & Jewelry Connection, 38 W. Franklin St, Centerville, OH, 937-436-3003.

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Local Company Laser-Engraves 1,400 Apples for U.C.

In Business, Economy, Local News, State News, Uncategorized on October 12, 2011 at 10:37 pm

Laser Wolf Engraving cut 1,400 apples for the University of Cincinnati College of Education.

West Carrollton, OH – With Halloween approaching, people are preparing to decorate Jack O’ Lanterns and bob for apples. For Will Stansfield, owner of Laser Wolf Engraving in West Carrollton, pumpkin carving is something done at the speed of light.

Since opening his doors in March of 2008, Stansfield has engraved hundreds of different types of products from champagne flutes and memorial stones to photo frames and etched glass. “Everything’s engravable,” Stansfield jokes. “We’ve done wood, plastic, ceramic even blue jeans and a toilet seat.” In September, the University of Cincinnati consigned Laser Wolf to engrave 1,400 laser-engraved apples boasting the college of education logo.

As part of a promotion for the college, the apples were included in gift baskets that were delivered to about 70 different local schools. Nothing touches the apples but light so they are clean and still edible after the cutting process.

Stansfield creates the graphics for each engraving on the computer and a carbon dioxide laser precision-cuts the design into whatever object he chooses. “Each apple takes about 30 seconds to engrave, and you can put just about anything you want on it.” he says.

In addition to apples, pumpkin engraving is another popular choice for the fall season. Laser Wolf can create pumpkins with logos, text or even photo portraits carved right into the skin. The engraved pumpkins can last for several months and the graphics become clearer and brighter after a couple of days.

Stansfield says engraved pumpkins are the ideal way to raise money for non-profit organizations and schools. On October 11th, the City of West Carrollton unveiled a laser-engraved Wright Brothers mural created by Laser Wolf.

Pumpkin engravings can cost as little as $12 for a graphic with an additional charge for a photo carving. Laser Wolf Engraving is located at 424 E. Dixie Drive in West Carrollton. For more information call (937) 609-3812 or visit http://www.laserwolfengraving.com.

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Occupy Wall Street Protests Lack Purpose

In Business, Economy, Jobs, National News, Opinion, Politics, State News, Uncategorized on October 12, 2011 at 11:40 am

By Gery L. Deer

Deer In Headlines

 

For the last couple of weeks I have been deflecting questions as to why I haven’t weighed in on the recent Wall Street protests. The main reason is pretty simple. While they might have a legitimate gripe with the government’s corporate bail out policies, I really didn’t want to give further publicity to their unbelievably socialistic agenda. But since this pointless movement seems to be spreading and shows no signs of weakening, here’s my take on it.

Taking a page from the Tea Party’s playbook, hoards of disgruntled citizens have gathered in protest of … what, exactly? The so-called “Occupy Wall Street, Boston, insert your favorite city here” groups have collected in more than 60 cities across the country. But for all their apparent numbers, they lack a common purpose and desired outcome.

In fact, protestors are insisting that a unifying cause or message is not required. Every movement must have a message. Surprisingly, this particular cause has dozens of different messages and that will likely be their downfall.

If anything, these self-aggrandizing rejects from the Tea Party movement see themselves as future folk heroes standing up for the “common man.” Sorry folks but we common men have to spend our time finding work and paying bills. We can’t spend weeks on end camping out with our hippy brethren in a public park.

Don’t be fooled. This is not a protest for civil rights or freedom from tyranny. Instead it’s a protest against success and achievement and nothing short of a demand for the adoption of socialism. Yep, you read that right – socialism.

According to the dictionary definition, socialists advocate the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution of land, capital, etc., into the community as a whole. In plain English, they want to take what you have worked hard to earn and divide it up amongst the rest of the population so that others don’t have to work or pull their weight. I think there’s something strangely ironic about a group that is pushing a socialist mentality which has no real community goals.

If the utter lack of a unifying purpose isn’t enough to label this movement ridiculous, the list of pseudo-celebrities who are lending their voices to the cause certainly does. On the off chance that participants of these occupations are reading this, I’ll let you in on a little secret.

Giving Al Sharpton or Sarah Palin a soap box and free publicity will do nothing for your absent cause. You’re allowing millionaires to use you like so much left over bacon grease and they’re just getting richer at your expense.

Speaking of expense, no one has considered the financial harm these gatherings are doing. At a time when city governments are struggling to balance budgets they now have to spend millions of dollars for extra security and maintenance that would not have otherwise been required.

In short, if these people don’t get a handle on exactly what they want they’ll never get it.  All I can say to this is that they have far too much time on their hands. Maybe they would do better to redirect some energy from whining and complaining to taking a shower and finding a job.

In any case, some of the anger demonstrated by the protesters should be directed away from corporateAmericaand pointed at President Obama. After all, he’s the guy you want to blame for the bail outs, and, by the way, he’s a multi-millionaire too and a self-admitted socialist. Interesting how he has done nothing to unburden himself from his top-heavy bank account.

People take up causes when they’re convenient or only after something bad has happened to them or someone they know. Without a meaningful goal, however, the Occupy movement will start fizzling out fairly soon, especially in the east, once the cold weather arrives. It will die out because there is no unifying message. In the meantime, the rest of us will keep working and trying to provide for our families so those people can continue to play in the park – on the tax payer’s dollar.

 

Gery L. Deer is a freelance business writer based in Jamestown, Ohio. Read more at http://www.deerinheadlines.com.