Police evict Occupy Boston protesters; 46 arrested

I like the controversy here: bringing a peaceful end to the 10-week demonstration by tearing down tents at the Occupy Boston encampment and arresting dozens of protesters.

I like the controversy here: bringing a peaceful end to the 10-week demonstration by tearing down tents at the Occupy Boston encampment and arresting dozens of protesters.

One. the park/location is not only for OWS-ers to use. Local people might want to use the grounds. So there is contention for this public space. I think most people will agree that protesting is a right, not a privilege, but, as with all things, this had to come to an end. What if I had a family or group of friends and wanted to play in the area without having to deal with an encampment and all it brings --the space, ostensibly as much mine as it is theirs --it's a commons. Occupying the ground indefinitely approximates a tragedy of the commons as it becomes useless (denial of access) of the other people who have the equal right to access the space, but who would use it fleetingly rather than semi-permanently.

Two. I am sure the city gave them many many warnings that they had to evacuate. That's the usual procedure. Notify the occupiers of the violations, grant fair warning, and then evict. But, I imagine authorities provided multiple warnings (notices) before taking this final measure. Being that it followed the law, unless you can point where there were violations of law, it was lawful eviction.

I don't know. In the playground, if you wanted the swing, and someone was on the swing, you waited until they were done. There was no set time limit for them to be on the swing. They got their first. If you went to a teacher and tattled, you were told you had to wait until they were done with the swing, then it would be your turn.

This just seems to be a case where they want to deny the protesters their full turn at the swing. So it must have been the principal's kid that complained to the teacher so the OWS people have to get off the swing. Now they have to get at the back of the line and wait, because the teacher said so.

Yes, if someone was on the swing you had to wait your turn. But if a kid insisted on hogging the swing the teacher would tell him to let someone else have a go.

Boston's mayor is a Democrat. Again, it's like the party is having some serious misgivings about supporting the Occupy WS movement.

What if I had a family or group of friends and wanted to play in the area without having to deal with an encampment and all it brings

Yes. Far better that a family get to play in the park than it be used to protest how the country is going to hell in a handbasket.

I am sure the city gave them many many warnings that they had to evacuate.

Beaurocratic measures are more important too!

I think most people will agree that protesting is a right, not a privilege,

Most of your post indicates that you think the opposite.

Cleo,

But if a kid insisted on hogging the swing the teacher would tell him to let someone else have a go.

I'm afraid we're going to have to disagree. Or we had vastly different schoolground experiences. At my school, the teacher may tell the child to quit hogging the swing, but as soon as the teacher had left, the snitch would have got theirs.

And our teachers frowned on tattletales anyway.

What we can agree on is that the Occupy crowd is made up mostly of losers.