SLIDESHOW: "Their Plutocracy Took Over My Democracy"

A group of citizens concerned with joblessness, bank bailouts, Wall Street and the nation's economy held a rally Thursday in Belmont near the corner of Ralston Avenue and El Camino Real.

Members and supporters of the Mid-Peninsula American Dream Council, an arm of MoveOn.org, gathered in an effort to gain support from their congressional representatives from the 14th District, Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and 12th District, Jackie Speier (D-CA). These two congressional districts span from Burlingame to Mountain View.

Most of the rally participants were residents of the Mid-Peninsula. 

Council coordinator Cilla Raughley explained that Belmont was chosen as the rally site because of its central location.  "We wanted a foot in both districts," explained Raughley.

"We appreciate their work in Congress, but in July they all caved in and voted for that bad deficit bill," said Raughley. 

Raughley said that the members of the Mid-Peninsula Dream Council want to show their support to the congresswomen.

"We are here to vocalize our support of them and we want the constituents in the 12th and 14th congressional districts to know we stand behind them (Eshoo and Speier). The stakes are very high for middle class families," she added.

"Did you know that 19 percent of Americans say they have trouble putting food on the table?" Raughley asked. "In China, it's only 6 percent." 

"The whole system is rigged so the 1 percent do better and better. Their plutocracy took over my democracy, so now I'm committed to waking up my neighbors."

"We are not Occupy---we support them and we have a similar agenda, but we do it differently. For one thing, we don't do the camping part--most of us are older," Raughley quipped.

Caroline Tudor and Gwen Jewell, both members of the Mid-Peninsula American Dream Council, stood their ground along the curb on the east side of El Camino Real hoisting their signs. 

"I'm pissed off," explained Tudor. The government has turned its back on us and they are letting the banks get away with unlawful acts."

Gwen Jewell agreed, "The government should establish a moratorium on foreclosures until we settle this problem. Anybody who's been paying for their home should be able to stay in their home."

Joe Dietzgen, a retired computer engineer, came up from Cupertino to participate in the rally. "I'm strongly in favor of increasing the number of jobs in our country," said Dietzgen.

Longtime Belmont resident Sheila Cockshott said she was drawn to the rally because people need to wake up to the problems facing the country. 

"There's something terribly wrong in our country when police can pepper spray students who are peacefully gathered on a college campus," said Cockshott.