Hi, y’all.

I feel like the heart of being an occupier today is direct action. Those of us still identifying with this banner are, on the whole, frustrated and completely cynical about electoral politics though a great many of us vote. We’re stubbornly unwilling to pick just one specific aspect of capitalism to fight when its systemic evils are staring us in the face.

Occupy Austin got called a couple weeks ago by C&M Conveyor, steel workers from Indiana who are under pressure by their new owners at Blue Sage, a predatory capitol investment firm. These steel workers are coming to Austin to confront Blue Sage, and they knew to call Occupy Austin for aid.

It’s a sign of the reputation we have that visiting activists know to call us for assistance in their own actions. Occupy is alive and well, as the go to activists for immediate, real street action.

Things are quieter now than we anticipated summer being for those of us who have occupied since the fall. But I hear about so much happening, from casseroles to new working groups, that I hope we’re really just bubbling away under the surface, waiting to explode again to visibility. Will it be Occupy then, or something completely new? I don’t think any of us know yet.

That’s what’s on my mind tonight. What’s on yours?

This is today’s open thread.