Here are the facts:

1) They OCCUPIED private property and conducted a demonstration without permits. Still, the city was nothing but tolerant to them for over 3 weeks.

2) They are now demanding PUBLIC sanitation facilities; normally the organizers of such a demonstration would have provided for that. Why should public resources be used to support a special interest demonstration?

3) They rightfully challenge the big corporate bail-outs. The government should not be selecting which businesses succeed or fail no matter what the circumstances. They negate their position by insisting that EVERYONE is entitled to a bail-out.

4) Free tuition? No – everyone is NOT entitled to a college education and colleges should be free to choose what they charge for tuition. The fact is there ARE economical options for higher education; our community colleges are doing an excellent job responding to this need.

5) FORGIVE ALL STUDENT LOANS? This may be the most ridiculous and selfish part of their argument. These people CHOSE to attend college and picked their own schools and programs. They CHOSE to borrow the money to go to college. That money is supposed to be repaid to provide funds for the NEXT waves of people hoping to attend college. Forgiveness of these loans simply denies an entire generation of their capacity to borrow and attend college.

Finally, comparison to the Tea Party? One can argue that at the core there are some sincere folks involved in this demonstration. Even if that is the case, it has now been co-opted by a critical mass of hooligans who are defacing private property and fighting with law enforcement. They are defecating and urinating in the open causing a dangerous health situation. They are doing and trafficking drugs openly.

At the largest Tea Party events there were NO reports of lewd or destructive behavior and several cites, including D.C. reported the Tea Party folks left the city cleaner than when they arrived. By the way; they did have permits.

In short, they’ve turned this into a party without any clear objective and devoid of meaningful leadership.

It’s time to shut the party down.

Many people have made careers learning how to game our system, to act within the “letter” of the law even if violating the spirit, and for many, the “Cult of Me” overshadows any notion of ethical, moral behavior, because after all, so long as the individual benefits, the impact on others is inconsequential according to this line of thinking.

Perhaps these protests will stir that ever vast “center” of America to awaken from their complacency and realize that many of the ideals of our Republic have been hijacked, but sadly I’m not counting on it.