Forum Post: Waste of Time-Or Worthwhile Pursuit?
Posted 11 years ago on Aug. 16, 2012, 11:59 a.m. EST by trashyharry
(3084)
from Waterville, NY
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
I am currently struggling to figure out the answers to some basic questions.For my own information,I am working my way through all kinds of data,but the accumulated terrible implications of what I am finding is not yet providing clarity.Question 1-Should #OWS back candidates for elective office(NOT Democrat or Republican)or would this simply be a waste of time due to corruption of the political process?Question 2-Should #OWS form a new political party and begin fielding candidates of its own or would that also be a waste of time for the same reason and also because such a course of action would inevitably create Fearless Leaders?Question 3-If both of these are ruled out how can #OWS present the idea that another world is possible to the general public in a manner that lends credibility to our ideas?I figure there are many intelligent people frequenting this forum who will certainly help with this conundrum by explaining their point of view and offering relevant data.I offer my thanks to all contributors to this forum because you have all already helped me and this country a great deal-indeed,#OWS is invaluable.
OWS backed candidates in local areas where they may have a chance of really winning even if its in a small town would send a scare throughout the current political system. A congressional seat in a small progressive district may be possible too. I think its worth trying. We must remember we are dealing with a complex multifaceted problem, and no one single type of action is going to do it alone.
We've got to keep on protesting.Things are going to have to change because the middle class is dying on it's feet-but people are still in denial-frustrating
Totally agree. We must also see protesting is not the only course of action we must take.
Totally agree.
OWS is a protest movement, not a political group. It's composed of individuals who are free to do as they please in making a difference. This may involve OWS individuals forming their own political party or it may involve OWS individuals backing specific candidates, but there is nothing that OWS needs to do as a whole that isn't already done. OWS is what it is and it's up to individuals of shared perspectives to come together in furthering their own ideas.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/its-a-pyramid-damnit/
We can embrace all non violent tactics, and welcome all political persuasions if they are willing to support improvement for the 99%.
If OWS's only accomplishment was to put the people back in charge of the government instead of the elite who now rule it, that would be an incredible victory. What OWS wants should be secondary to the desires of the great masses of decent people who have lived under economic and political tyranny for too long. The direction taken when we reach that point should be up to all of the people. That is what Democracy is all about. Not the will of a few, but the will of the many.
LOL-I am sure #OWS does not nor could it ever want anything that would in any way prevent Democracy from breaking out-because #OWS IS Democracy breaking out-good post!
1.) Yes 2.) Yes 3.) Not the right time in American history, but some things are beyond our control. First, we have to engage reform using the tools our forefathers gave us. REAL reform-- not the two-party fake stuff.
It's high time the American People start refusing to toke no for an answer when it comes to serious reforms-starting with campaign finance and laws governing elections.
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There is one main problem I have with coming up with answers to questions in these areas.I have been doing research on the corrupt banking practices,the housing bubble,the MIC,conflict of interest in business and politics,corporate criminality,securities fraud,and speculative activities in the commodities markets among other things-since 2006.I have accumulated a massive amount of data.Everything I can find indicates that corruption is so deep and widespread that there is no way that piecemeal reform,or conventional approaches like trying to effect change through electing progressive politicians-would do anything except waste time,effort talent and money that would be better allocated towards something else which might actually end up helping real people who are grappling with real problems.Right now I am thinking a continuation of nonviolent tactics is the only choice that makes sense,and there are a number of those which #OWS has not used yet.It seems like you are right in that we need to start local cooperatives and just simply wait.Unfortunately,the corrupt Elite class has a history of preventing peace from breaking out,fanning the flames of regional wars,and actually setting up pretexts for new wars in order to create cover for their crimes,and the international banking and oil interests seem to be able to start any war,any time,anywhere-even in cases where there is no reason to go to war AND everyone knows it.
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By Wait-I meant wait for a more advanced state of collapse.I am convinced that a partially collapsed structure with multiple stress factors will eventually collapse completely.On the other hand,all the prognosticating in the world can't predict when this might occur,although the response of the Master Class is definately forseeable.
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These posts are really good and very helpful-thanks to everybody once again.Unwinding one clusterfuck with numerous participants is a tedious task.Our country has turned into an all encompassing,interconnected clusterfuck and the one thing that really bothers me is the idea that millions of young people could very well end up being afraid to borrow the money to go to college-just like I was 30 years ago- afraid to keep borrowing money to finish college.
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Too bad the Gates Foundation can't start a free online university so more people could live a "healthy,free and productive life"-or whatever their bogus corporate slogan is.
I think OWS should pick one main issue that 99% of America, or at least a vast majority, can agree with and then promote candidates who chiefly support that issue. Obviously the Tea Party has been hijacked by fundamentalist right wingers by now, but it started as something very simple - Taxed Enough Already.
Whether you agree with them or not, you have to admit they have been very successful in having their candidates elected. I think the vast majority of Americans would agree that 99.9% of Americans pay plenty of taxes already so the Tea Party was able to quickly gain support. If real change wants to be made by OWS, they need to coalesce behind one or two extremely popular issues. Because let's face it, unless things get much much worse, OWS has probably maxed out the amount of people who are willing to spend their days protesting and living in tents.
The most obvious issue that OWS and the vast majority of Americans agree on is the need to remove the influence of money from our politics. A lot of the other ideas and issues raised on this site probably don't have that same widespread support.
Would presentig or backing candidates to participate in a corrupt process be playing a double game,though?How I feel about the TP is that the tactics they will almost certainly employ in Congress will be across the board refusal to compromise with anyone,combined with obstructing any and all legislation from taking place.I am pretty sure Mainstream America has had enough of that already and the TPers will end up without credibility because of it.
Well if it is unpopular legislation, Mainstream America will gladly welcome the obstruction. The corrupt process can only be changed by Congress. They make the laws. If enough like minded people can be elected, change can be made. The only way to get enough people elected though is with widespread support from the public. OWS, as currently constructed, appeals to only a very small percent of the American public.
I disagree-I think #OWS does appeal to people because they are fully aware that giant corporations have seized control of every aspect of their lives and they don't like it.They think they can't do anything about it and the job of #OWS is to CHANGE THEIR MINDS.
That idea appeals to people but OWS is a lot more than just that idea. Look at the topics discussed here and the things done at the rallies. This is what people see. OWS has stopped growing, there is no doubt about it, because they have essentially reached a ceiling in how many people will support it.
The problems are learned helplessness and apathy.As an artist.I have spent my life hacking at a 60 foot thick layer of apathy,and I have hardly made a scratch.I can't help but notice how all of your posts are about how #OWS is over,#OWS can't connect,nothing can be done,lay down and take it and other downer concepts.So I question that kind of whinge-aholic,you-should-let-your-country-drown-it's-easier type of language.I question your purpose and it almost think that although you say it's raining.it is actually you.Mookie-who is urinating on my head in an effort to discourage me.That's not a nice thing to do-and it won't discourage me a single bit-on account of my father,his father before him,my love of my country,and my fellow citizens.Keep that negativity flowing out and away from yourself,at least,because it's toxic.
You really don't think that OWS can do more to appeal to a lot more people?
When our local Occupy was protesting last fall, my employees would come in to work and mock the protesters that they saw on their drive in. And these are the people that OWS is supposed to help the most. These are middle class workers making $40-60K a year and they view the Occupy protestors as more alien to them than even the 1%. It is sad.
What started as a very noble idea has become a place for people to preach their extreme views. And that is fine if that is what people want to do. It has just become a stretch now to say that Occupy represents the 99%, because the majority of the 99% do not agree with a lot of what goes on with Occupy.
The American Middle Class is dying.People are in denial-the trick will be to gin up another war before they snap out of it.One problem with Americans is they disbelieve in misfortune until it knocks on their own door.The truth is that The Good Old Days are gone-the middle class pillars will continue to fall,because so many middle class livings were derived from middle class spending.You can't take that much money out of a closed economic loop without causing a dramatic ripple effect.Anyway,I keep on telling the Well Heeled Upper Middle Class people that I know-The Big Boys are coming for you next-with all your wealth you will make for them a tasty snack&good luck with that,dude.
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the middle class isnt dying, its intentionally being killed by obama.
This really isn't a partisan forum.Many of us belieive that the politicians are puppets who have no real power.You are wasting your time trying to convince me that Obama is killing the middle class-don't make comments like that here,because all of us know that the persons and entities who mortally wounded the middle class are the ones who have the money and power and they are not politicians.
the room monitor speaks!!
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Your enthusiasm indicates that your name does not appear on The Presidential Kill List-or it IS on the list and you don't know it.Too bad there is no way to find out-it sure would be a shame to vote for someone who keeps a list of the names of people who are to be killed by his personal Goon squad-but if your name IS on the list,that would be adding insult to injury,IMHO,because when that black hood goes sliding down over your face,you can't take your vote back.
If the middle class knew the truth about our economy, that for the last 40 years their incomes have grown as a result of inflation only, not by any real increase in income, they would be with us.
Did they forget that a family in the 70's went from a single breadwinner to two in the 90's just to make ends meet?
Look at the figures on this graph. The middle class who are part of the lower 90% in income are losing ground to the wealthy. They are being denied a fair share of the wealth they help produce. Productivity has increased 80% over the last 40 years but the lower 90% have only received a 3% increase.
http://stateofworkingamerica.org/who-gains/#/?start=1968&end=2008
demand elections be national and state holidays
Honestly, the thought of giving my employees election day off never even crossed my mind. Where I live the polls are open from 6 am to 8 pm and it takes about 2 minutes to vote. Why would people need the day off?
for democracy to work,
people must take the time and respect need for making decisions
They don't need 14 hours. That is crazy. Very few people actually decide on election day anyways. Most do weeks, or even months in advance. Of all the problems this country faces, this is a complete non issue. What a loss of productivity. I have no doubt that, if given the option, all of my employees would show up to work that day because we do profit sharing and you can't make any profit if you are closed.
Explain that. Seriously, how, in your mind, do you need 24 hours?
Explain that. Seriously, how, in your mind, do you need 24 hours?
Huh? People need to work to pay their bills. They probably don't want or need to take a day off just to vote which takes 2 minutes.
they need 24 hours at least
Explain that. Seriously, how, in your mind, do you need 24 hours? What would you do the whole time?
In our voting system you walk into the both, check off a few boxes next to peoples names who you have been hearing about for months and already have an opinion of, and then you walk out. 2 minutes, tops.
I concur. The reality is the masses don’t know much about OWS other than the demonstrations on TV. Unfortunately that hasn’t put OWS in a positive light. Before we can push for a candidate we must gain some broad support of the public. OWS has to focus of a few basic issues the public can relate to before we can expect a OWS candidate to be taken seriously.
Personally I think it’s time for OWS to get focused. We can’t be all things to all people. Without much greater public support we’ll never be successful. Right now the emphasis should on gaining support from non-OWS citizens.
http://jobcreationplan.blogspot.com/2012/07/market-failure-of-economics-profession.html
Q12b Would you say that your vote is more FOR Barack Obama or more AGAINST Mitt Romney?
Results shown among Obama voters
More for Barack Obama .........................................72
More against Mitt Romney ......................................22
Q12c Would you say that your vote is more FOR Mitt Romney or more AGAINST Barack Obama?
Results shown among Romney voters
More for Mitt Romney .............................................35
More against Barack Obama ..................................58
Interesting.
ignore the broken political system and build interconnected communities of like minded people in solidarity, and mutual aid.
remove all support to the corrupt and demented military-bankster system run by corporatists, and redirect all resources to local communities interconnected in a world wide network.
the corporate-capitalist-military system will inevitably fail,. and will sooner if you remove your support from their hate-filled greed-based system.
LOVE
Why don't you start with a cooperative of one? That's what I did, and not to worry - I'm certain the masses will start arriving any minute now.
Endorse Obama... at least then those to right of left will see where you stand.
The choice between Obama and Romney boils down to;how fast do you want to see a collapse of civil order-almost immediately with Romney or a little later with Obama.I can't make up my mind about that,but on the other hand,I prefer death to voting for a Republican.A cooperative of one person can't exist except in the case of 2 or more people inhabiting one body.
Well said. Doom is coming; and I'm joking.
I knew there was an explanation.
Funky-you are a mystery to me but I like your feistiness.