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Forum Post: Think OWS is just a phase? You don't get it.

Posted 12 years ago on Jan. 24, 2012, 1:41 p.m. EST by squarerootofzero (81)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

America is not made of entirely (wealthy) business people or (wealthy) top-level government servants (ha) which is what Gingrich, Romney, Obama, and the rest, believe (or just want to believe). This is how they see the world. What about the Teachers, the Factory Workers, Farmers, regular people doing regular jobs? What about Artists, Musicians, and Performers? Do they not make this world a BETTER place in which to live? They have ZERO representation. OUR Government treats them like a burden on society because they don't run a multimillion dollar company. Because they aren't a Senator, or a Congressman, or a President. Because they don't wear a suit and a tie to work. Because they have different beliefs or values. People within our Government attempt to weaken regular people by giving them choice but really it is a false sense of control. It is classic slavery mentality. The illusion of choice. WE do not choose our leaders. These elections are much more about a power grab and the business interests they represent than it is running the Government. The UNITED STATES of America is NOT a CORPORATION. OWS represents the people of America that the Politicians refuse to recognize as an important part of the social fabric of this Country. Because of the work people (like OWS) are doing there is a chance at change. Our Government will not change for the People's benefit they will only change for their own benefit. The particulars of this battle does not matter. It is the result and the change in consciousness that is important. Only people that see the forest through the trees will get it. Keep Calm and Battle On.

37 Comments

37 Comments


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[-] 5 points by JPB950 (2254) 12 years ago

The people you mention, the people with regular jobs, you're not really on their radar that much. Many of the ideals spoken of by OWS, a more responsive government, better regulation of corporations, money removed from politics are all good and could easily gain support, but you need a reality check of sorts too.

OWS has elected to go more or less exclusively with protest and demonstration to raise awareness of issues. In spite of all the kindred spirits in groups across the country there hasn't been any effort to recruit candidates for congress and make change happen through voting. This makes OWS as useful to the workers you mention as a lapel ribbon.

If the economy improves OWS will fade away and any chance at political reform will go with it. If the economy gets worse (and it would have to be a lot worse then the Great Depression was) then groups that are politically organized will co-opt the emotion OWS evoked.

[-] 2 points by ronniepaul2012 (214) 12 years ago

Well put. I am also sick of the repelican nonsense. Like it or not, Republican leaning folks are a significant segment of the 99% and share the desire for changes in the items you listed above. I am sick of being insulted for not fully embracing the most radical aspects of this movement.

[-] 3 points by JPB950 (2254) 12 years ago

I hoped when it began that they would take that next step and organize politically. It would have been so easy to run good people from the various occupy groups across the country in primaries and shake up both parties. A few political wins or even some close losses could have nudged government to move in the right direction.

[-] 1 points by ronniepaul2012 (214) 12 years ago

Excactly. It needs to start at a local level, too. County/city council, mayor, state offices. You can't start out by tilting at DC windmills.

[-] 1 points by CatLady2 (248) from New York, NY 12 years ago

I had hoped for the very same thing, start small.. local.. groom people to take on the challenges for the bigger picture. But alas, I am beginning to think it would have been just too much work to take on such an effort. Sad if you ask me.

[-] 1 points by JPB950 (2254) 12 years ago

I agree.

[-] 0 points by shoozTroll (17632) 12 years ago

Mr. P, is a (R)epelican.........!

[-] -2 points by trailerParkTim (-13) 12 years ago

better to be a repelican than a libtard

[-] 2 points by shoozTroll (17632) 12 years ago

Maybe, but you're a (R)epelican't.

[-] 1 points by nichole (525) 12 years ago

I've met a lot of Anarchists through Occupy. Our current state of government is completely irrelevant as far as they're concerned.

[-] 1 points by JPB950 (2254) 12 years ago

Yes I know. Too bad though, they could begin to change things if they wanted to. I wonder if they think there is going to be some sort of popular uprising.

[-] -1 points by squarerootofzero (81) 12 years ago

"OWS has elected to go more or less exclusively with protest and demonstration to raise awareness of issues...This makes OWS as useful to the workers you mention as a lapel ribbon." Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves.

[-] 3 points by MsStacy (1035) 12 years ago

JPB makes a good point and all you can do is reply like a bumper sticker?

[-] 5 points by ARod1993 (2420) 12 years ago

That's rather annoying. Those of us who are criticizing this thing are not criticizing it because we want people to go home and forget about the issues the movement raised early on. In fact, most of our criticisms are specifically aimed at preventing that from happening; we're past the point where protesting really works and we need to do basically the same thing the Tea Party did in 2009-10 (fundraising, lobbying, voter registration especially, culminating in sponsorship of candidates in local, state, and federal primaries and general elections). The more we hold on to protests as the one and only way forward, and the more willing we are to look the other way when idiots decide to smash things in our name, the more likely the whole thing is to fizzle.

[-] 3 points by MsStacy (1035) 12 years ago

I agree. It gets discouraging to be told over and over OWS is trying to raise awareness and doesn't want to get into politics at all. My fear now is that they have let the moment pass them by. I don't know how involved it is to get someone on a primary ballot.

[-] 2 points by ARod1993 (2420) 12 years ago

From what I can guess it's a lot of work and they've effectively decided to sleep through the 2012 election (which as far as I'm concerned is second only to what appears to be a newfound willingness to let the black bloc slide on their list of poor decisions). The 99% Declaration is the first group I've discovered that I trust that's actually trying to affect the outcomes of the 2012 elections, and I've got a candidacy and a profile up there.

[-] 1 points by April (3196) 12 years ago

That's great. I support the 99%Decl. I was a little disappointed that they decided not to do write-in candidates for 2012. It seemed to me that they were caving in to the pressure from OWS. Being that they are still technically a Working Group in OWS, and seem to want to remain there for some strange reason. That's what it seemed to me anyway from reading some of the comments on the work group page.

[-] 1 points by ARod1993 (2420) 12 years ago

From what I've heard Occupy Philly officially gave them the boot (and I believe the NYCGA didn't react much better) because they were concerned about certain pieces of the proceedings (representatives coming from congressional districts, the basing of the number of delegates per district on the male/female gender binary, the exclusion of violent felons, the requirements for participants to be registered voters, and maybe a couple of more things that I'm missing) that made the whole thing too conformist (which as far as I'm concerned is crap) and wanted to stay ideologically pure. I consider that decision a serious mistake.

[-] 1 points by squarerootofzero (81) 12 years ago

Slogans don't do anything, people do. Put that on a bumper sticker. "Change we can believe in" should come from us not from useless slogans. WORDS, however, are very powerful. The solutions to these problems is removal of ignorance and personal responsibility. The 99% is not a literal designation and that has been discussed ad nauseum at this point.

[-] 1 points by MsStacy (1035) 12 years ago

Pointless.

[-] 3 points by JPB950 (2254) 12 years ago

Slogans are nice, but they don't change anything. The demonstrations have their place, but political action is needed to make real change. Pick an issue, the environment, civil rights, war, anything. Demonstrations start things, but using the power of the people you've brought out to vote in representatives to make change is what gets things done.

OWS speaks on behalf of the 99%, but they don't represent them. The whole idea of the 99% is misleading, a majority of them know next to nothing about OWS. The people with regular jobs are going off to work living their life while OWS allows itself to become irrelevant.

[-] 1 points by nichole (525) 12 years ago

Representatives? What? We have representatives?... LMAO. It doesn't work that way. That's cute, you still believe that WE THE PEOPLE are represented.

[-] 1 points by JPB950 (2254) 12 years ago

Politicians sell themselves, that's never been a secret, but they also respond to pressure when you gather up a sizable voting block. It is possible to make a politician that doesn't care about civil rights, the environment, gun ownership, vote your way if you can effect his reelection.

OWS, in the beginning, looked like a national organization, backing people in primaries and making it look like they had influence would have been worth a shot. As it is OWS is content to demonstrate and claims to represent the interests of the people, the 99%. That's their illusion, demonstration without developing political power is useless. As long as a large majority of Americans are working and occupied with their own lives, this is the only government we're going to have.

[-] 3 points by beautifulworld (23767) 12 years ago

"The UNITED STATES of America is NOT a CORPORATION." That pretty much says it all. Political philosophy is dead in this country, not even a consideration.

We don't need a businessman to run this country. Good god, this is not a corporation seeking profits. It is a country full of humanity.

[-] 3 points by rayl (1007) 12 years ago

once the depression kicks in, and i mean depression, people are going to be mad as hell and ows will be conveniently poised to vent that energy. i believe this is why there are so many trolls trying to disrupt the movement. they're worried about an organized backlash. in the 1930's there was no way to coordinate protests globally like there is today.

[-] 1 points by squarerootofzero (81) 12 years ago

There is an extend and pretend game going on. It isn't going to work. We are sweeping the same old problems under the rug. I really don't care about the momentary details, arguments, and semantics of this movement; I care about people who say "The law will never make men free; it is men who have got to make the law free." People are very worried. They are worried that we won't obediently zone out in front of our TV's and routinely buy into their indiscretions with our minds and our wallets.

[-] 2 points by squarerootofzero (81) 12 years ago

"change in consciousness that is important" THIS is what matter and in that respect has been and is successful. Everything else is just polishing brass on the Titanic.

[-] 1 points by alterorabolish1 (569) 12 years ago

It's difficult to keep calm. In addition to the artists, musicians, and performers you mention, I think about the people that work for me. They live on the $225 per week I pay them.

They have no bank account, they buy food when they get their weekly paycheck, and they have constant stress because they must buy a new car battery, or some other repair on their car which already has a garbage bag covering a window. There is great suffering in my world.

[-] 1 points by squarerootofzero (81) 12 years ago

That is all relative. Life means suffering. Even the rich man suffers just like the poor man, maybe for different reasons. It is up to the individual to create awareness of the problem and practice letting go in order to ease the suffering.

[-] 1 points by Lardhead2 (67) 12 years ago

And yet all of those artists, musicians etc.. Keep voting those same politicians into office. And keep looking at them as honest, worshipful saviours and protectors agains the Enemy.

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[-] 0 points by occupypuppies (71) 12 years ago

totally not just a phase it's forever it's a game changer and it's going down in history. think about that. think about how the original occupiers are going to be in history books.

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[-] -3 points by Neweratyme7 (7) 12 years ago

These are events that have been foretold through the ages. Unfortunately for mankind, he believes he is greater than that which has control of this Earth, henceforth...Catastrophes!! Why do you think the Illuminati, the Masons, http://bilderbergmeetings.org/index.php,..... meetings take place? It is not about creed, or color, it is about the RICH and the POOR! They know why OW is present, and they know what needs to be done to keep their power hold...

"For those this time will be embraced as a welcoming, spiritual change. Yet, it will become more frightening and deeply resented by others. Don’t be surprised that "new wine will never be put into old skins." There are those who are not ready for change. There will be those who abhor the idea of any new wave of thought, or actions by society for peaceful reactionary measures, not war or violence or bloodshed as it has been."

http://adonialights.tripod.com/what-to-believe.html

IT IS ALL FIXED and the masses are following the correct path to make this change occur!!! Be careful...EVERYONE!!

[-] 2 points by DieNachthexen (103) from New York, NY 12 years ago

go back to infowars

[+] -6 points by ZenDogTroll (13032) from South Burlington, VT 12 years ago

I think this summer is going to be crazy

[-] 0 points by squarerootofzero (81) 12 years ago

This is not going away. Just because Google and Wikipedia stand up for freedom of speech and obviously have tremendous influence, so will the people even if it is an tedious and uphill battle - that is real courage. Our voices are small, but they will become many.

[+] -4 points by ZenDogTroll (13032) from South Burlington, VT 12 years ago

they already are many. And we are having an impact.