The Occupy movement needs to clean up its act before it gets swept into the dust bin of history. 

Occupy Oakland protesters broke into buildings Jan. 29 and vandalized their interiors.  Police clashed with occupiers who donned improvised shields, a tactic that implies an escalation of forceful tactics against police.

Members of the Occupy Oakland movement need to realize that they are hurting those whom they claim to represent and are in turn losing vital public support for their opaque cause.

I have an old adage I’d like to share with Oakland occupiers: don’t bite the hand that feeds you.  

Who picks up trash after your demonstrations? Public employees paid by taxpayers.  Who protects business owners and their property from your vandalism? Police paid by taxpayers.  Who pays for your civil rights infringement lawsuits? City governments funded by taxpayers. Who seems to lose the most from your demonstrations?  Taxpayers.  

Or the 99 percent, if  you prefer to use catchphrases of today.

Another adage to keep in mind: the best way to get out of a hole is to quit digging. 

Not satisfied with the way things are going in the country?  Here’s a novel idea: find those who fail to represent your interests in government, be it local, state or federal, and work to replace them.  Support candidates who are sensitive to your issues and are actually committed to representing you.  

This, along with financial contributions, is how corporations guarantee support for themselves in government; why can’t we learn from their successful methods?

Enough with crying foul after being disciplined for misbehaving in public.  Enough with the childish temper tantrums that cost taxpayers money that is already in short supply.  Grow up and actually make a difference. Change your government.