Forum Post: A New Direction for OWS?
Posted 11 years ago on May 12, 2012, 7:12 p.m. EST by kjohnso00
(2)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
I admire OWS and have thought of joining in, but I don't really want to camp out in front of someone's house. I believe that the only way to really make changes is by reaching out to the populace and mobilizing everyone against the current system. The only safeguard that prevents the US from turning into the Congo is one man one vote. And everyone needs to take advantage of that. Basically, I think it would be nice if we could hold local meetings and talk about issues that really concern us, focus on maybe two of those issues, and find solutions. We could hold meetings with other groups, find ways to meet with senators and representatives, and do a lot of outreach in our neighborhoods. If we have large numbers of people putting pressure on our lawmakers to fix the problems or face being voted out of office, then maybe we could really accomplish something. Does this sound like a good idea to anyone? It would not be partisan. Republican or Democrat, we are all facing the same problems.
OWS is not doing its part. This commenter has the right idea. Why work to fix things at the federal level when most people can't even break of the corruption in the city they LIVE in. Local grassroot efforts can do more to fix the economy than ANY NEW law or rule. Start a petition drive with specific tasks to accomplish and work to fix your own city before jumping into the pin with the big FED dogs.
Let me tell you a story about what happened in the city I live in. The city wanted to sell a city park to some out of town (wall street) developers who wanted to build some condos. The people put up a petition, gathered three times as many signatures as were required in half the time stipulated. The city poo pooed off the petition, and against all law sold the park to the developers, who promptly put condos up on the land. So much for democracy. Fed, state, local; its all the same beast.
The problem we are facing is multi-dimensional, and so the solution must inherently be multi-dimensional. OWS is doing its thing. If your not all in tune to that, you can still go out and do your thing. I'm doing my thing the best I can. All positive action complements, and there is synergy in that.
p.s. One can look back at almost every successful revolution throughout history. One finds it took people working both inside and outside the system to invoke true change.
Support the 99% ... demand elections be national and state holidays
I agree entirely.
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synergy- I both love and fear that word. Yes greed corruption and crime in this modern day world is all encompassing it is in everything just like a cancer that has gone rampant through a body. One form of attack/treatment is not gonna do the job. Though a Multifaceted attack on all fronts may save the patients life. In this case the USA and in extension the world.
I agree, but you don't want the rent a crowd people there either, as they are sending the wrong message out. I have seen demonstations taken place in Australia where farmers young and old run a peacefull demonstration outside parliament. When I got home the media showed a different picture focusing on the rent a crowd people making them look like a bunch of anachist no hopers. The media needs to be accountable for what they present.
The mainline media is run by the 1%. Don't expect anything fair out of them. Even if no rent a crowd was there, they'll make OWS look like that. OWS and everybody else needs to create its own media to get their message out.
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There's a big temptation to say the Occupy movement should do this-or-that but it's going to evolve (I'm starting to hate that word) it's own way.
I agree but I think the two approaches work better. The media are not on side to air public opinion usually. Demonstrations help balance the view point at least and show that the people are not happy.
I think we can learn from Iceland as they have done well in defeating the banks in their country. Debt is by far the biggest issue that is cousing so much poverty that we need to fight against. The link below shows how Iceland defeated the banks.
http://truedemocracyparty.net/2012/04/iceland-is-free-iceland-kicks-out-the-bankers-how-iceland-defeated-the-bankers-this-is-how-true-democracy-works/
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Sounds great!
The tea baggers are already doing this. What you don't understand to realize is that the vast majority of people in this country are busy at work, taking care of their children and have other things on their mind then going out to demonstrate on someones lawn.
Follow the tea party movement - they are accomplishing their goals - even though the vast majority of the OWS disagree with what they are doing.
Run a "parallel" group if you want to accomplish things otherwise the OWS will be the same old, same old, 5 months from now.
The tea partiers are accomplishing their goals with the help of the Koch brothers, and their neoliberal friends.
You missed my point - I said the most OWS don't like the tea party but they are accomplishing things.
How hard is that to understand - who cares about the "Koch brothers" - I don't but if I want to get something done, I surely would look at how they were doing it because they do have accomplishments unlike the OWS who are in a "continuous complain mode".
I did not miss your point at all. I got it. The tea party's goals are different than ours as you know, and they represent more of what the deep pocket neoliberals of both parties want, hence their successes. The many affinity groups in OWS are approaching this at every level., but we believe to get the systemic change needed, we cannot follow their blueprint. "how hard is that to understand-," Is that anything like, 'I think you misunderstood me.' Please let's not get nasty, OK?
OK, so don't follow their "blueprint" as you say. Lets see what the OWS will accomplish 6 months from now.
OK....talk to you in six months.
Steve is not a friend of OWS or Occupy or the 99%.
The more you know.
This has been a public service announcement.
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It is not a question of being a "friend of the OWS" as much as pointing out things that the OWS can accomplish instead of being fragmented.
2 months ago I pointed out that the OWS should be protesting in Washington DC but it fell on deaf ears. So, what have they accomplished in 2 months - nothing but disruptions, getting a bad name in the news media along with being thrown in jail.
I figured that. I just wanted to sharpen my skills tonight....was getting tired of everyone agreeing with me. :-)
Sorry to interrupt your fun - carry on. Pretend I was never here.
Did you read my post? I said that I DO NOT want to camp out on someone's lawn. I was thinking that any work done would be evenings or weekends when people have free time.
Starting a parallel group might be a good idea. The Tea Party has a good model minus the religious aspect.
No, I didn't misread your post. People have better things to do on weekends then go out and protest because they are working all week and need time off to do things they enjoy doing with their family.
That's why the OWS don't have a great many people protesting with them.
You are not restricted in your time. Do what ever you can when ever you can. Nothing is set in stone as to how you can or can not participate.
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No this does not sound like a good idea to me. The system is far too rotten. At this point every form of resistance is not only acceptable, but preferable though, so go to it. The main thrust of this movement has to be from the outside and it has to be defiant, as people have been trying to do similar things like you propose here for quite some time, and we have seen how ineffective they have been. Finally, what we need is not any little reform that your efforts might bring about, but rather we need a sea change in the way our political and financial systems are run.
"The main thrust of this movement has to be from the outside"
What do you propose exactly? More campouts? Marches?
What sometimes does work if your legislators are wimpy enough are some well placed goat heads.
Any and every form of resistance with the big exception of violence should be lauded. This corrupt system has to feel the heat from as many people and places as possible.
Right F'n ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Education of our fellow human beings. Out reach. Sharing of information. Sharing of direct action opportunities. Support of each-other in maintaining the legal battle. Promoting the taking of action as best you can. No one here has the exact same circumstances or immediate freedoms of movement. Take advantage of what you can.
So Odin, are you saying even violence is acceptable?
No, I am not.
Okay good. I was trying to see if you are one of the trolls here that are pushing for violence and unrealistic goals.
No offense meant.
None taken. Glad to know i passed the piss test. :-)
Always looking to forward the nasty and unthinkable. That is troll work.
I have absolutely no problem with your post as it stands.
Further take a look see:
http://occupywallst.org/forum/get-active-be-proactive-unite-in-common-cause/