Several hundred marchers converged on the Capitol's west lawn to decry money's corrupting influence on government. One protester held up the sign: "Face it liberals, the Dems sold us out."

"Corporations and government have been so inextricably
linked that it's not a true democracy anymore,'' a 16-year-old named David from New Haven, Conn. told Reuters. " And people have to realize that."

It's true: Congressional corruption practices equal opportunity on the Hill. Both Democrats and Republicans are on the take -- tacking on earmarks for district pork, supporting legislation or riders that legally benefit their financial benefactors. It's a crime of both parties, documented here and here and here. Occupy movements have sprung up across the nation to challenge citizens' dissatisfaction with the oligarchy that runs America. Those power brokers have fought back through police proxy with arrests, tear gas and demonstration "pens." Ominously for citizens, the government has broadly expanded its police powers with President Obama's signing into law the "pernicious" National Defense Authorization Act." And, in Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel seeks to further entrench our rights to protest by asking City Council to increase fines to up to $1,000 for "resisting arrest," close public spaces overnight, require permits to gather on sidewalks and apply a week in advance for permits.

There is no way to fight the putrid taint of money in politics other than marching en masse.





Here's a video of Occupy hero Sgt. Shamar Thomas detaining "Sen. Carl Levin" in his Capitol offices this afternoon.