This morning over at Americablog I read the following remarks in a post by John Aravosis:

Okay, the connection to Goldman is interesting. But I’d like to know a hell of a lot more about just who works at that port, and whose goods are going through that port – meaning, they’re not stopping Goldman’s imports, they’re stopping imports to businesses across America (and exports from business across America) right before Christmas, and during a Depression. And what’s worse, the unions seem, at best, divided on this action (which isn’t a good thing if it’s supposedly being done in support of the unions).

More from CNN:

In addition to Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Diego protesters planned to shut down ports in Portland, Oregon; Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, Vancouver, British Columbia and Anchorage, Alaska, according to the Occupy the Ports website.

Then there’s this:

“We are occupying the ports as part of a day of action, boycott and march for full legalization and good jobs for all to draw attention to and protest the criminal system of concentrated wealth that depends on local and global exploitation of working people, and the denial of workers’ rights to organize for decent pay, working conditions and benefits, in disregard for the environment and the health and safety of surrounding communities,” organizers said on their website.

Hmm. This is starting to sound more radical than I’m comfortable with, and that’s the first time I’ve felt this way throughout these many months. And according to the article, truckers, for example, are going to lose a day of pay because of this action. I’m sorry, but that bothers me right before Christmas and in the middle of a Depression.

I guess Mr. Arovosis thinks that if we just wave our fingers at corporations and politicians that are bought and paid for by the 1% they’ll listen, stop being so mean, and will give up on those massive profits and campaign contributions upon which they rely to get re-elected. One shudders to think what he would say about the Montgomery Bus Boycott our the way in which Egypt was shut down. “What about Christmas!” “Will you think of the children!” Fortunately he’s taken to task in the comments. As Harvey observes, capitalist markets only exist in the activity of exchange. They are organized around a circulatory system. So long as that circulatory system functions there is no incentive for the corporations and the politicians they own to make any concessions or changes. Wagging our fingers does nothing if it doesn’t interrupt that circulatory system.