Any Port in the Storm

   
Protesters arrive early this morning at Port of Portland Photo by KOIN TV

“Since we keep getting kicked out of public parks, lets stop all business coming in and out of the Ports! Its Wall Street on the Waterfront!” The latest inanity from the Occupy Portland, Occupy Oakland, Occupy Long Beach & Occupy San Francisco crowds.

In the Port of Portland, over 200 longshoremen were told NOT to come to work today.  They will NOT be paid.  Could you afford to miss a day’s pay during the holiday season??

                  Photo by Randy Rasmussen/The Oregonian

Joe the trucker is just one of dozens of truckers stalled at the Port of Portland. He’s just trying to pick up a shipment for delivery from Terminal 6 in the Port of Portland.  If he doesn’t pick up and deliver, he won’t get paid for the day.  The Occupy Inanity crowd could care less.  They think it’s a brilliant idea to interrupt commerce.

Joe’s wife is anxiously awaiting the arrival of a new shipment of X-box game systems. They plan to spend all of their Christmas money on this one gift for their son, Joe Jr.  A new shipment is on a boat awaiting unloading at the Port of Portland, terminal 6.  But the workers can’t get to the ships to do their jobs.  Apparently the Occupy Inanity crowd thinks that’s OK. 

The owner of the little game shop where Joe & his wife have their name on a waiting list for the newest X-box, is anxious too.  This is the most important month of his small business year.  In fact, this is the only month that makes a profit for his small business, enough profit – normally - to carry him through the lean months.  Without the new games & game systems waiting to be unloaded at Port of Portland, he knows he’s going to miss at least one day of profit because of the Port shutdown by the Occupy Port of Portland fools. And he wonders how long this inanity will continue.  He can’t afford to miss a day of profit. 

                 

Mary and her husband George run a small produce shop downtown.  They normally do a big fruit basket business this time of year.  The fresh produce they depend on could be rotting on a ship in the Port of Portland about now.  The inane occupiers think that’s OK.  Because they THINK they represent the 99%.
Problem is, they’re inconveniencing the 99% along with delaying commerce during the busiest retail season.   Just how is this helping the “99%”?

And why do the Police do NOTHING to keep the Ports open for business?  How DARE the protesters (and the police inaction) interfere with everyone’s livelihood and commerce? 

I’m shocked that this inanity continues. What’s happened to our society?  Who do these people think they are?  Protest is fine.  Its even admirable.  Stand up, have your say, you have that right.  You do NOT have the right to prevent 99% of the working public from earning a living.