Fight The Power!

Filed under: Media Minute

A view from above one of the office buildings in Century City of the massive - thousands strong - Writers Guild demonstration outside Fox studios on Friday morning.

If you support the writers on strike, CLICK HERE to sign the petition!

Posted: Nov 9, 2007 at 4:08 pm / Email this »

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171 comments to “Fight The Power!”

More comments: [1] 2 »

java jake says – reply to this

1

geez
redsonja1313 says – reply to this

2

WOOO HOOO GO TEAM ………………..am I first ???
LC says – reply to this

3

WHO CARES
Stacey says – reply to this

4

was Bush's publicist there refusing to feed republican propaganda to fox news?
miss libbit says – reply to this

5

so they should be given more royalites!!
BBC says – reply to this

6

Ellen sucks for breaking the strike. If ever other show respects the strike, why should her's be any different. I was with Ellen on the whole dog thing, but she *&%$ed-up bad on this one

FIRST
Gabrielle says – reply to this

7

RIGHT ON!!!!
r says – reply to this

8

crazy
Babs says – reply to this

9

oooh - fascinating - who gives a shit?
Dave Montgomery says – reply to this

10

I wish they were zombies! this pic would be SO much more exciting
annet says – reply to this

11

first
MiMi LaRue says – reply to this

12

That's nice, but I'd say "hudreds strong."
lauren says – reply to this

13

oh my gosh
lauren says – reply to this

14

oh my gosh
j says – reply to this

15

WHO CARES! DON'T GIVE THOSE FUCKERS AN INCH.
MeGs says – reply to this

16

tHaTs AlOt
andy says – reply to this

17

HOLY COW!
Billy Splatts! says – reply to this

18

Looks like a 'Gene Simmons Thousand'

LOVE the P-Man!
lauren says – reply to this

19

oh my gosh. thats insane!
chanel says – reply to this

20

I support the writers! They deserve their cut! shame on Ellen!
Samantha says – reply to this

21

Insane!!
Anna SSSS says – reply to this

22

dang
ladida says – reply to this

23

I wish I had that kind of time.
redsonyaisadirtysnatchhole says – reply to this

24

No Redsonya, you are not first ……………………Ha Ha
J P says – reply to this

25

25 th !!! I support the strike but they need to stay the fuck off the roads!!
WHATEVS says – reply to this

26

MAYBE a thousand Perez.
Mr. Diller says – reply to this

27

Who cares? There are kids dying of cancer all across the country every few minutes. One third of the country is living below the poverty line. Public schools failing in many cities. Where is the perspective Perez? This is so fucking stupid to cover a writers strike. No one gives a shit outside the 30 mile zone!
Brandie says – reply to this

28

god, i wish i had been there. hopefully the fucking AMPTP decides to stop being assholes and pay people money they're owed.
Kate says – reply to this

29

Re: BBC –

I read that her contract required her to go on regardless. I also read that she wasn't pleased about it.
Maddy says – reply to this

30

I was wondering why they weren't outside of work today - i thought they forgot to come in - it is a little damp outside
redsonja1313 says – reply to this

31

But for those who say they don't give a shit….this impacts so many more then just the writers. Who PS: were asking for .08 cents of the profits from the DVD sales a whole .04 cent increase from 1988.

People who are not striking or in the guild are being fired at the whim of pissed off executives. The majority of those who work in Hollywood earn between 35-75k a year. Do you know what the cost of living is in this town and a staff writer if he is lucky is earning 40-50 k a year and is unable to collect unemployment. Even if he/she does not want to strike to get the job you had to join the guild and if they strike you can't go to work. Business will suffer and if this drags out till June or July as they fear working people will lose their homes, regular people who work in business that cater to the industry will be out of work. There is 1-3 % of the working population of writers that earn Simpson money the rest are really just like everyone else trying to support a family and live.
Badger says – reply to this

32

Sign the petition!!! Get real fudgepacker.
Tomas says – reply to this

33

To be bad we can't come together for something important. Like stopping the war.
PAY THEM WHAT THEY'RE WORTH says – reply to this

34

PAY THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY'RE WORTH. TOO BAD THERE'S NOT REGULAR PEOPLE OUT THERE SUPPORTING THEM. WE WATCH THE SHOWS TOO SO WE SHOULD SUPPORT THE WRITERS. I KNOW THAT IN THE WEEKS TO COME WE ARE GOING TO BE WISHING THAT WE HAD SUPPORTED THE WRITERS. THERE SHOULD BE EQUALITY IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. HOW CAN WE GIVE ACTORS TOP BILLING OVER WRITERS. IF IT WASN'T FOR THE WRITERS THEN THE ACTORS COULD NOT WIN THE HUGE HONORS THEY DO. OH AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE CELEBRITIES "JUMPING ON THE BANDWAGON" BRINGING FOOD AND DRINKS TO THE WRITERS. TAKE A CUT IN YOUR PAY TO PAY YOUR WRITERS!!! IT'S SUCH A SHAME THAT THEY ARE TAKEN FOR GRANTED. CONTINUE STRIKING GUYS!! I WISH I LIVED IN CALIFORNIA BECAUSE I'D BE ON THE PICKET LINES WITH YOU.
tomas says – reply to this

35

You would think they are protesting something important like the war or global warming. As usual its about money.
Kate says – reply to this

36

Re: redsonja1313 –

I care! I want 24!!!! I also know that often actors are interchangable and it is the writing that makes the difference and makes the show. Seriously, you would think movie execs would figure out that most people go to see a movie because of the story not the star - as evidenced by all the big names that can't open a movie and all the no name lead films have done well. Unless you are a comic actor like Adam Sandler, then someone else can play the role and make it work. It is the writing that makes a show or a movie.
mememe says – reply to this

37

I thought that online petitions were useless because they cant prove any of the signatures. So im wondering if its worth my time?
Anonymous says – reply to this

38

There will be no season 24 if this goes any longer. They did not have enough episoded edited before the strike.
Veterans Day says – reply to this

39

Veterans Day is Monday, why don't we have these kinds of protests against the atrocities that our government is commiting! Ridiculous.
Rash Manly says – reply to this

40

Support the Writers Guild!
Rash Manly says – reply to this

41

I just signed the petition and it takes less than one minute.
gary says – reply to this

42

I DON'T UNDERSTAND… HOW CAN ANYONE SUPPORT A STRIKE BY PEOPLE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY, WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THEY ARE ASKING FOR!!!?!?!? WHAT IF THEY ARE ASKING FOR A FORTUNE? WHAT IF THEY ARE ASKING WAY MORE THAN WHAT THEY DESERVE. THEN YOU ARE SUPPORTING CORPORATE BLACKMAIL… THAT IS PATHETIC.

LEARN TO ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU THROW BLIND SUPPORT!!! YOU PEOPLE THINK YOU WOULD HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING AFTER WE BLINDLY SUPPORTED IRAQ FIRST WITHOUT ASKING THE PROPER QUESTIONS.
annie says – reply to this

43

If they give writers a share of the sales, won't the industry just pass the cost on to us? So why are they hesitating? It won't come out of their pocket.
J P says – reply to this

44

FUCK EM !!! When they come to my office and rally for me to get a raise then I will support their effort. But until then they can go get fucked!!
Edison says – reply to this

45

Re: Mr. Diller – So because there is horror in the world we should ignore the smaller issues? Where's your perspective? I'm sick and tired of sheep like you using this boring line when there's a cause you care nothing about. If you see a kitten dying on the side of the road ignore it … there are far bigger fish to fry. YOU are what's wrong with this country/world.
lalocal says – reply to this

46

FICTION: Los Angeles News Media Reports “Writers earn $200,000 a year on average.” (KABC 11/5/07)

FACT: The median annual income for a Writers Guild member is $5,000. That's because over half our membership are out of work in any given year. Of those who are working, the average annual income is $37,700. Additionally, WGA members pay percentages off of their deal amounts to Agents 10%, lawyers 5%, and often managers 10-15%.

FICTION: Studios claim to the WGA that the internet is too new, they don't know where the revenue is coming from, and that they lack a business model.
FACT: Studios claim to their stockholders that they're making hundreds of millions of dollars on the internet already, with more to come. We all know the future is the internet. In a matter of years, DVDs will be as hard to find as VHS tapes are today. And a few years after that, they'll be gone.
Edison says – reply to this

47

Re: LC – Certainly not you. Why should you? It has nothing to do with you. So selfish.
BooHoo says – reply to this

48

If writers want more money, the celebs who are highly overpaid should give them some! I'm not too impressed with most of the writers in Hollywood- their shows are often pretty crappy. They collaboratively write about 20 min worth of material a week, and it can still suck. Why should I care? And if tv shows go off the air, then make all TV become PAY television like cable and the cable owners can pay them. Ellen can do whatever she wants. It's America, and she has written a lot of her own material. Writers should write things that make money for them or go to acting school or get a different job. And by the way 33% of the country is not below the poverty line. Not the legal people at any rate. If youa re poor, get a damn education, raise your kids right or get a higher IQ. What does that have to do with this? this is a celebrity bashing site, not NEWSWEEK.
Kate says – reply to this

49

Re: gary –

OMG. You are comparing the writer's strike to IRAQ? Wow, you are way too intense. Writers are the working class in the entertainment industry, most everyone knows that. They write the material that makes the stars look good and while actors are getting tens of thousands of dollars an episode, most writers make less than 100K in a year. So let's see - Jenn Aniston 100,000 for one episode of Friends saying lines written for her by someone who makes less in an entire year than it took her to make in a week. Not a tough cause to support.
Edison says – reply to this

50

Re: Babs – Please inform us of what's important to you. What keeps food on your family's table. When it's threatened, let me be the first to say, "Who gives a shit".
MOVER IN MI says – reply to this

51

I have never posted a comment but can't help myself. Maybe those greedy writers should get real jobs with realistic pay scales like the rest of us in this shitty economy. Then they would have something to bitch about and stand up for!
MM says – reply to this

52

Wahhhhhhhh We don't make enough money! We want more! Wahhhhhhhh. Does anybody remember that we're in the middle of a war in Iraq? Sorry if I can't muster up enough sympathy to actually give a flying fuck about a bunch of whiney, greedy, little bitch TV writers!
mega says – reply to this

53

Thanks Perez for using the reach of your site for this cause! I urge everyone who watches TV shows affected by this strike to sign the petition. The writers are not being greedy - they are being exceptionally fair and deserve a small sliver of the profits their talents generate.
Edison says – reply to this

54

Re: ladida – If you were out of work, you would.
MOVER IN MI says – reply to this

55

I have never posted a comment but I can't help myself. Maybe those greedy writers should get real jobs, with realistic pay scales, in this crappy economy like the rest of us. They they would really have something to picket about!
Gary says – reply to this

56

re Kate — I compared it to Iraq because there are alot of innocent people being hurt by this strike. Writers are not underpaid or overworked, but because they want more money, they are willing to hurt everyone around them. I have friends are TV shows that don't have a job next week! Their lives are being turned upside down because the writers are grabbing for cash. So before you blindly support the writers, realize that they are intentionaly hurting people for their own personal profit.
Karma says – reply to this

57

Holy fuck, that's a lot of writers and supporters!

More power to them!
megan says – reply to this

58

They should be happy they have jobs to begin with, so stop pissing and moaning about wanting more money and get your asses back to work. You make more than enough money and half the stuff you write is crap anyway.
Kate says – reply to this

59

Re: MM –

So if your contract was up and it was time to negotiate a new one, would you say to your boss - "Please don't give me a raise - not even a cost of living raise - because there is a war in Iraq and I don't want to whine." Your post does not make sense, the two issues are not related. And don't get down on people who align their natural talent with their career goals. Writing and entertainment have value in our culture, it brings families together at night and allows for opportunities to discuss issues, it brings co-workers to the water cooler to laugh together about what we as a society consider funny.
lalocal2 says – reply to this

60

Re: MOVER IN MI – Uh greedy? I think you are confused. Perhaps, you mean the corp giants like murdoch & redstone et al. Given that failed executives regularly get golden parachutes in the hundreds of millions of dollars, I'm thinking the studios have room to flex a couple of pennies to the people who invent/create the product that makes billions.
emptyinterstate says – reply to this

61

i hope you've worked your last day and that your union rots in hell. stand strong producers, stand strong. make them beg…
Kate says – reply to this

62

Re: Gary –

Gary, My cousin and spouse are both working actors. Semi-famous, hard working actors. They have dozens of pilots between them and have been on 4 very well known shows. They do voice over work when times are slow and they invest well. They are out of work too, but they support the writers. They know the writers are the spine of a show - it is the writing that makes a show. They support the writers because they know there is a huge disparity in what they get paid compared to what writers make. It is stupid that anyone is getting down on writers for asking for a fairer wage. Anyone who complains should never ever ever ask for a raise for themselves. These are not people who are overpaid and lazy. Do you have any idea what it takes to write a one hour drama for each week? Try it. Then bitch.
sarahbears says – reply to this

63

i signed it, give them their fucking cut so i dont have to watch reruns of daily show anymore, and who knows what will be next.
Gary says – reply to this

64

This isn't about a few pennies… they want profits from products that they create. Figure this… do you know what inflation would be if every person got a percent of a profit from the the products that they created. The McDonalds worker who makes the hamburger… should McDonalds then have to pay the worker a fee for that burger being served? don't forget the farmers who raised the cow, grew the lettuce, tomatoes or made the cheese. They should all get a cut from the sale of the burger too… See where I am going with this?
This world would be ridiculously expensive if the everybody does what the writers are currently doing. That is why I am calling them greedy!
UNIONS SUCK says – reply to this

65

UNIONS are UNAMERICAN!! There are only 2 shows on network tv that I care about - HOUSE and CAVEMEN. The rest SUCK ASS. Try getting a "real" job with a real salary and see how you like it. Freaking Unamerican Mafia UNIONS are the RUINATION of AMERICA!!!
Paw says – reply to this

66

a few hundred, tops
Gary says – reply to this

67

re Kate… do you even know what they are asking for??? do you even know if they are asking for a "fair" wage??? or are you just saying they should get whatever the hell they want because they have the ability to shut down a studio?
Kate says – reply to this

68

Re: Gary –

In your analogy the writers would be the creator of the recipe and the actors the worker that made the hamburger. Still feel they don't deserve a better deal?
Ellen says – reply to this

69

BORING!!! NO ONE OUTSIDE OF LA CARES ABOUT THIS LAME-ASS STRIKE. As a previous poster stated, there are more important issues that should have attention brought to them….not these writers who want more money. GIVE MORE MONEY TO THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY DESERVE IT IN SOCIETY: TEACHERS, MILITARY, EMERGENCY SERVICES, NURSES, ETC. Get over it…I aint signing the petition!
Gary says – reply to this

70

re Kate Everyone deserves a better wage then what they currently get… however your salary is generally based on your value… but unfortunately there are a hundred writers ready to do the job that writers are doing now for the same cost… hell, even probably less. I wouldn't be surprised if the studios crush the union to prove a point to other unions. The writers need to be careful that they don't price themselves out of a job.
oscar says – reply to this

71

ellen went to strike on monday.

and besides good job for ellen. hollywood people are spoiled, there is stuff going on in the war and they only care about getting paid more.
Kate says – reply to this

72

Re: Gary –
Gary,
No, I have not be privy to their negotiations nor have I seen their current contract. And typically I am anti-union. However, this is not about someone creating a widget on an assembly line. These are creative artists who are indeed underpaid when you compare what they make to the other artists who perform their work. You could bring me to Hollywood and show me how to run a craft table and I could do the job. You could teach me how to be a gaffer with time. You could not however teach me how to write a sitcom. I could try and try and try and it just wouldn't happen. Since you are into serious subjects think of it this way. How would you feel if you were the scientist who formulated the cure for cancer and then Pfizer made the drug. Then Pfizer took all the profits and most of the credit? Why do you condemn them for fighting for a bigger percentage of what they actually create? Look at J.K. Rowling - Is anyone yelling at her for making part of the movie profits? It may not be exactly the same, but the premise is close.
michelle says – reply to this

73

wow. look at all that smog!
pK says – reply to this

74

Too bad you don't put the same energy into protesting the fuckin WAR!
Tommy says – reply to this

75

its ok for educated whites to walk around protesting on the streets, but, if minorities do it, its uncivilized.
Fuck the AMPTP says – reply to this

76

To all the people saying who cares, you'll change your tune once you spoiled asses don't have any scripted programs to watch. What the writer's are asking for is not unreasonable. SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and DGA (Directors Guild) both have contracts expiring in June, and it's not inconceivable that the Writer's strike will go on until then, and then SAG and the DGA will strike bringing Hollywood to a standstill. I'm sure you'll care then.
tjb says – reply to this

77

Fight the power? The writers are not struggling peasents. I work in the system and I consider the writers as part of "the man." Their strike to "fight the power" are putting a lot of workers out of jobs…I guess they don't care about protecting them.
Kristen Dei from LA (Louisiana that is) says – reply to this

78

Re: Mr. Diller – Is this the first time you've read Perez's sight? Does he usually cover dying/starving children/families? He covers entertainment, and I find it admirable that he is lending a hand (and allowing fans to voice our opinions) by using his very popular web-site. Although I do not agree with everything that Perez says, I appreciate his genuine concern in this matter and I bet the WGA does too!
Macchendra says – reply to this

79

Suck up all you want… You'll still be the self-important unwanted outsider. Sure, there'll be plenty of people around to use you (corporate types who see you have a brand and a product), but really, they all hate you. And rightfully so… you'd probably even turn on your best friend if they became "easy pickings" like Jacko or Britney. You shy away from fresh meat in favor of carrion because deep down, you want to be liked… ain't happening.
Jess says – reply to this

80

I don't support the strike - if you don't like your job, get a new one. This is AMERICA.
But if you're going to strike, STAY THE HELL OUT OF THE STREETS. I hope they get run over for having their dumbasses in the way.
IgnoramusAward says – reply to this

81

To the people who say WHO CARES? There's war, aids, cancer, world hunger…. etc…..
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you don't seem to be doing anything about those issues, either.
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The online petition only takes a minute to sign, and it sends a message to the TV execs
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This strike will damage US economy….there will be more foreclosures, less consumer confidence, which will mean SLOWER ECONOMY GROWTH
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If you think this is about a bunch of whiny writers asking for more money, you are missing THE BIG PICTURE
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so what are you going to do about it?
CReg says – reply to this

82

I support the strike, but I also support Ellen crossing the picket line.
dave says – reply to this

83

What you didn't see is the helicopters and planes that were used in the California fires that Fox had hired to soak the lazy bastards with water….. Ooohh it was funny. All those writers were covered in ink and soaked right through to the britches……
DON'T SUPPORT THE STRIKE! says – reply to this

84

Fuck these assholes and their residuals!! How many people working in the real world continue to earn money on work already completed?? Do dentists get a residual every time someone smiles?? NO - this outdated system is a complete joke. The crew people aren't getting residuals either, now they are just out of work completely because of these lazy douchebags!
Lucy says – reply to this

85

I do not support those assholes one bit. Whining about money. You picket over healthcare, benefits and quality of work, not "pay me more" ramblings to executives who are maximizing sales and growth potential that features their work. Bah.
dave says – reply to this

86

Re: Rash Manly –

Good for you using that time so positively. I'm off for a dump instead. Back in 60'secs (or longer if its a ft long log - I did eat half a cow yesterday)
Dangldee says – reply to this

87

Re: IgnoramusAward –
What am I gonna do about it?
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.Well,
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Nothing……….
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I say………
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Nothing…..
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because….
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I DON'T GIVE A SHIT
HEY!!! says – reply to this

88

Hello>>>>>>>>

This STRIKE will affect everybody….not only WRITERS, but everyone else who work directly and indirectly w/ the industry like: retail, restaurants, banks, you get the idea….
Carol says – reply to this

89

I don't support the strike…I understand that they need more pay. But my friend works for NBC and could possibly lose her job over this. Why would I support people trying to get more money, if it could cause my friend to lose her job?
Jay says – reply to this

90

You assholes are a pain in the ass, get back to work or you will be replaced. (Which wouldnt be a bad idea with all of the crap thats on tv these days)

They were filming something on my street this morning and some dickcheese started wailing and chanting on a megaphone, at 7 in the morning. Thats called disturbing the peace. Assholes.
J says – reply to this

91

wow rich overpaid types sure know how to strike…detroit automakers could only be so lucky!
Unions Suck says – reply to this

92

Last time the writers went on strike they caused my friends business to go bankrupt. They were a small business and couldn't survive not working for that long. They also lost their house in the process, and they weren't the only ones. They are affecting the people who do the hard work in the industry and believe me we won't forgive them. So, I have to agree when people say "fuck them".

Do you know who the big whiners are in this strike? They're the people who do make money. They're the people writing for huge shows, that live in multi-million dollar homes, and drive $50+k cars. They are not the writers who are struggling to make it because those people have other jobs to support themselves. The only reason they have so many out of work writer's is because if you happen to get a job on a show they force you to join, and when you get let go or if your show is canceled you still end up stuck paying dues which most will pay in case they are up for another job so that they aren't in bad standing with the union. Do you think they help with dues when you are struggling to pay your rent on you cater waiter salary? Think again.
Kate says – reply to this

93

Re: Carol –
That is your logic? So if your friend was a writer on strike? Then would you support it?
The Strike??? says – reply to this

94

A friend of mine is a producer in LA…I heard a different story about the writers. Most already get $30K up front, incentives, plus residuals for reruns. They are getting paid while on strike (um…the reruns we're watching) while most of the hard-working CREW members are getting zilch.
anti ware says – reply to this

95

i wish we could put this kind of feeling behind our anti war asses. people are dying. we need to protest this shit. seriously. i want to hunger strike till the war ends. thats a little more important than TV (although i do support fair wages too - just not as imp. an issue)
LALocal says – reply to this

96

Re: The Strike??? – Their beef ( from what i understand ) is that in the future, most viewers will be watching these reruns on the internet….and the residuals only apply to TV….and when TV broadcast becomes obsolete and is replaced by internet viewing, then the writers won't get anything at all….so the writers want to make sure they arent assed out.
Winchell's ghost says – reply to this

97

For me they can be on strike forever - man, the trash Hollywood produces. And the best thing said: #35 - Tomas says – reply to this To be bad we can’t come together for something important. Like stopping the war.
nicefeet says – reply to this

98

What about when teachers strike? Or automotive workers? or sanitation workers? Or welders? Or other unions? Everyone in unions will strike at some point.
I only hope you give as much space to them as you do to the writers.
Mr. Diller says – reply to this

99

Re: Kristen Dei from LA (Louisiana that is) –

Kristen- You are totally right. I read this lame site all the time as a distraction from a life in the hospital where children around me ARE dying of cancer every day. I get a little to bent sometimes at what Perez thinks is "big news" but is really not that entertaining. I could care less about this dumb strike and think its silly that Perez is getting so excited about it.
And that all these people like "Kate" post these defensive things - she is clearly one of those out of work writers. Honestly the person that discovers a cure for cancer is NOT working at a drug company where scientists actions are dictated by profit potential. He/she is in a lab at a hospital or cancer center somewhere fighting to get 30,000 a year to keep his or her studies going. Im all for fair wages but this is such a boring story and Perez seems to be using his audience to try to scare celebrities into following his inclinations.

You are right- wrong forum. I just think its pretty dumb. Big deal, people will be out of work that earn bet 35-75K a year. Welcome to America. High cost of living in the Top 10 cities in the U.S which have 30% of the U.S population. Waaa. What about teachers getting laid off or people coming back from Iraq. There are just people out there facing similar hardships that are actually contributing something more important to society.
bob vance says – reply to this

100

yeah, writers on strike…thousands strong. that's great and all…but maybe if this many people take interest in protesting this fucking 5 year old never ending war, if people take the streets in every major city in america, thousands strong, maybe the media and the politicians will take notice…maybe.

when is that going to happen? protest ended vietnam…it may be the only thing to end this