Haven’t heard much about the protests going on in the financial districts in the US? Are you surprised? When the interests of the elite are challenged getting the mainstream media to notice is like trying iceskate uphill (go see what al jazeera has to say on OWS). I repost this nugget about the OWS demonstration, find the full post on Whatever Works.
“POSTED BY ORHAN
The MSM continues to ridicule #OWS for not having a specific list of demands. The absence of demands, and consequent absence of a divide-and-conquer target, that’s driving the media into such a tizzy is not specifically a “tactic”, but, as far as I can tell, is a byproduct of the radical democratic process being practiced by the General Assemblies (nicely described by Matt Stoller).
Here is the closest thing I’ve found to an “official” statement on demands from The Occupied Wall Street Journal, a paper published and distributed by #OWS:
What are the demands of the protesters?
Ugh—the zillion-dollar question. Again, the original Adbusters call asked, “What is our one demand?” Technically, there isn’t one yet. In the weeks leading up to September 17, the NYC General Assembly seemed to be veering away from the language of “demands” in the first place, largely because government institutions are already so shot through with corporate money that making specific demands would be pointless until the movement grew stronger politically. Instead, to begin with, they opted to make their demand the occupation itself—and the direct democracy taking place there—which in turn may or may not come up with some specific demand. When you think about it, this act is actually a pretty powerful statement against the corruption that Wall Street has come to represent. But since thinking is often too much to ask of the American mass media, the question of demands has turned into a massive PR challenge.
The General Assembly is currently in the midst of determining how it will come to consensus about unifying demands. It’s a really messy and interesting discussion. But don’t hold your breath.
So it appears #OWS is specifically addressing the anger of the majority of Americans at the power, arrogance, and lack of accountability enjoyed by the coterie of the richest 1%, and the marginalization, disempowerment, and impoverishment of the remaining 99%–and doing it in a way that is “horizontal, autonomous, leaderless, modified-consensus-based”, which most people–let alone members of the political class–find it almost impossible to wrap their heads around.”
The message needs to be disseminated far and wide, and people need to see who is responsible for much of the financial ruin in their lives.
18 comments
October 10, 2011 at 9:39 am
Vern R. Kaine
Here’s one of your heroes crapping on a police car. This is “principled”? It’s a joke, and right now, they’re a joke.
Believe it or not, I’m not entirely against the OWS movement. They want financial reform, so do I. They want health care reform, so do I. They’re against the hoarding of money by the banks and the removal of jobs and money from the U.S. economy. So am I, and so are many Conservatives.
The irony is, however, that the mass of these protestors are the very same people who voted for the current administration who in turn brought in lame, more-political-than-practical, so-called “reforms” that we see in health care and the financial sector today – the very things these clowns are protesting against. By not reading beyond a headline or by allowing a (D) behind someone’s name to automatically mean they were working for the “middle class”, these wannabe-hippies essentially gave this Administration (and incidentally, their Wall Street and F500 cronies) a free pass on virtually everything that they’re bitching about.
And what did they get for it?
1) Toothless financial reform that allowed banks to hoard their money, pay extravagant bonuses, report record-breaking profits, and still lay off employees with not one single arrest for the financial disaster these institutions caused, (aka “Dodd-Frank”)
2) Health Care Reform that was supposedly for “everybody”, and yet gave free passes to friends of the Democrats while making the middle class continue to pay more in premiums. (aka “ObamaCare”)
3) A “Jobs Czar” that put a sitting, serving, private-sector CEO into public office while keeping his job as CEO. In turn, this crony has sent more jobs, intellectual property, and operations overseas than he has created at home and yet he continues to hold the job with the full support of the President (aka the “Obama-Immelt Love Affair”)
4) ZERO tax reform that continues to allow that same “Jobs Czar” to pay zero in taxes. (aka non-existent tax reform)
I largely think the Tea Party is a bunch of loons, but they have my respect for at least organizing, focusing, and acting in a way that created real change, specifically influencing the gubernatorial elections (for better or worse).
I HOPE these knit-cap, anti-establishment, free-lunch, park-wrecking bums can get their act together and truly be a force to be reckoned with, but that will start with them picking the right enemy and turning their demands into a legitimate platform that they can act on. Right now I think they’re hypocrites – it was their own ignorance and complacency that they exercised which allowed the four things I listed to occur under their watch of an Administration they’re so endeared to that is still as chock full of Wall Street cronies (if not more) than any administration has ever been.
Should they get their act together, however, we will finally have a force from within the left that will demand accountability and real numbers from the Democrats and the left that goes beyond the headlines, talking points, and rhetoric that I believe this Administration has hid behind since the very beginning.
There’s tremendous potential here – I hope they use it.
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October 10, 2011 at 9:41 am
Vern R. Kaine
“Here’s one of your heroes crapping on a police car.” It didn’t post the image. Here it is from a British newspaper – http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/10/08/article-2046586-0E481DB700000578-865_634x366.jpg.
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October 10, 2011 at 10:22 am
ojmo
Thanks for the shoutout – let’s get as many people on board as possible…
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October 10, 2011 at 10:53 am
The Arbourist
Here’s one of your heroes crapping on a police car. This is “principled”? It’s a joke, and right now, they’re a joke.
Wow, there isn’t much the American populace can do right by you is there Vern. I note from previous discussions that you often rail against the lazy, apathetic, disconnected attitude people have. And yet here we have people doing something, risking arrest and injury to themselves among other things, and you’re crapping on that too. Could you please define this seemingly narrow section of V.R. Kain approved activity that would not offend your sensibilities? I’m curious because fomenting political and social change is never a clean cut, tidy issue. The Union membership in your history had to brave the strike-breakers, police and often the army to fight for their demands, their crime? Wanting reasonable wages and working conditions. Crazy stuff, I know.
these wannabe-hippies essentially gave this Administration (and incidentally, their Wall Street and F500 cronies) a free pass on virtually everything that they’re bitching about.
So who do you vote for when both choices represent the interest of the monied elite? I know I would vote for the lesser of two evils and attempt to reform the electoral system so other parties could get nominated. Electoral reform is glacial though, especially when the current system favours the entrenched interests, so you still want to exercise your democratic obligations but how so given the current choice of oligarchy party 1 and 2?
And what did they get for it?
A centre-right president who dances with those who brought him to the dance. Did you somehow think that McCain would do any better or really, any different? Hope and change was a sham, as people found out because if Obama was *really* about changing the system, he would have not been a candidate for the Democratic party.
but they have my respect for at least organizing, focusing, and acting in a way that created real change,
Of course they have funding, as their platform further benefits the interests of the important classes. Did you actually think the Tea Party would have any traction or notoriety if they represented the interests of the people? It would be a very different story indeed.
from within the left that will demand accountability and real numbers from the Democrats and the left that goes beyond the headlines, talking points, and rhetoric
The OWS needs to continue to organize and get together and more importantly not let the Democrats co-opt their message.
There’s tremendous potential here – I hope they use it.
Me too.
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October 10, 2011 at 10:58 am
The Arbourist
The media is not really engaging in this story, and thus it is left to the bloggers, social and alternative media to get the message out. Thank you for posting the original. :)
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October 10, 2011 at 11:34 am
Vern R. Kaine
I note from previous discussions t hat you often rail against the lazy, apathetic, disconnected attitude people have. And yet here we have people doing something, risking arrest and injury to themselves among other things, and you’re crapping on that too.”
I think you’re generalizing, Arb. Nowhere have I criticized the fact that people are expressing a grievance, or coming out to do so. In fact, I stated that I hope they actually do get organized and become a force to be reckoned with because I agree with many of their supposed points. The rest of what I say, I believe, is consistent with my other beliefs:
One in particular, re: “Lazy”: I argue that sitting in some park, chanting, or crapping on cars isn’t “doing something”. I still call it “lazy”, because it has zero to do with actual movement or execution towards a goal. Creating awareness or assembling alone simply doesn’t cut it anymore, and right now, that’s all the OWS is doing. I stated elsewhere what I think would actually be “active” and what I would recommend to them in order to move towards or better execute on their goals. Examples: 1) Protest a particular law, or person for more people to rally behind. 2) Sit in on Wall Street AND the White House simultaneously, specifically protesting the embedding of Wall Street and Big Business members that currently occupy the Administration, 3) Line up at one of the big banks and do a symbolic “run” on the bank, showing their withdrawal slips to every media outlet on the way by.
“Wanting reasonable wages and working conditions. Crazy stuff, I know.
Haha. You’re comparing this to workers in a textile factory or kids in coal mines? You’ve got a long way to go before OWS is anywhere even close. ;)
…so you still want to exercise your democratic obligations but how so given the current choice of oligarchy party 1 and 2?”
I’m in complete agreement with you. This is where I think the bulk of Americans actually connect no matter which party they support. It’s also why I do support what the OWS ultimately want which is reform in the four areas I mentioned. I’m critical, at least at this point however, in how they’re trying to get it.
“A centre-right president who dances with those who brought him to the dance. Did you somehow think that McCain would do any better or really, any different? Hope and change was a sham, as people found out because if Obama was *really* about changing the system, he would have not been a candidate for the Democratic party.
At the risk of offending your sensibilities, Arb, AMEN! ;) I totally agree with you here. And btw, to your McCain question, my answer is an absolute “No!”
“Of course they have funding, as their platform further benefits the interests of the important classes.”
???? The Tea Party isn’t a party, and any candidates supporting the Tea Party get their funding in the same way any other candidates do. OWS can fund their preferred candidates in the same way, which I look forward to.
And btw, you think OWS’s platform doesn’t benefit the interests of the “important classes” also? The problem here is that OWS is demonstrating that they ultimately want to give power to someone else other than themselves. They’re acting like they’re dying to be rescued, and in that state they’ll vote (again) for anyone who says the right things to make them feel rescued.
Think about it – who, if not these so-called “99%”, was it that actually handed all the power back to these “important classes” in the first place? How did they do it? By the qualities I said earlier that they (we) exhibited then and will exhibit a week from now when this is all over (should their approach not change).
“The OWS needs to continue to organize and get together and more importantly not let the Democrats co-opt their message.”
Arb, I don’t think we’ve ever agreed so many times in one post! :) I’m liking it.
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October 10, 2011 at 11:41 am
Vern R. Kaine
For better or worse, I get the sense that the media is trying to cover this in the same way they covered the Tea Party protests in order to “appear” (note the quotes!) impartial.
They also must be considering that showing large protests in America gives guys like the little runt Amaderkadinijad fodder for his rants as well, which I doubt anyone in the western world wants to contribute to.
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October 10, 2011 at 1:30 pm
Bleatmop
Vern:
“I largely think the Tea Party is a bunch of loons, but they have my respect for at least organizing, focusing, and acting in a way that created real change, specifically influencing the gubernatorial elections (for better or worse).”
I’m kinda hoping this can turn into a more social version of the Tea Party. It will be much harder for them to organize though without the Billionaire Brothers (Kock) laying down AstroTurf for them.
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October 10, 2011 at 2:05 pm
Bleatmop
I mean Koch
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October 10, 2011 at 4:21 pm
Vern R. Kaine
Perhaps more social, but right now they’re receiving care packages of condoms and free food “that tastes better than at my parent’s place” (according to one protestor), making a mess, and smoking a healthy amount of pot.
“Without the Billionaire Brothers”
I disagree. If they’re truly the “99%”, they could organize and fundraise just as easily as any other group could. The problem is these people are naturally disorganized, and overly idealistic. The tea partiers had the goofy hats, sure, but these people are walking around naked with only painted nipples and spouting conspiracy theories, and are expecting working people to take them seriously. Not going to happen.
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October 10, 2011 at 5:31 pm
Vern R. Kaine
An interesting post here, Bleat, if you haven’t seen it already. Kind of ties into what we’re talking about re: OWS being a serious movement. In the post Holt gauges them based upon Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals” guidelines, and they’re failing even at that.
http://www.frumforum.com/why-the-wall-street-protest-is-failing
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October 10, 2011 at 11:25 pm
bleatmop
Vern – I’m pretty sure having a billionaire shelling out millions (or some other random number, I don’t know the specifics on exactly how much the Koch brothers have given to tea party astroturfing) will make it a lot easier to get organized that having to fund raise from the ground up. The the ability to advertise for donations before you get an from the membership of a movement would be helpful to the success of any movement.
As to the article you sent me, it’s somewhat problematic. It claims that occupy wall street is failing even though it recognizes in the article itself that the protesters seem to have no goal beyond occupying wall street. Seems to be that they’ve been pretty successful in their only stated goal. The author seems to be critiquing them because they are not causing enough trouble for those who work on Wall Street, as if the
corporate securitypolice would allow them to do that and that they don’t seem to be making a societal change (which remains to be seen though I suspect that he is right). I’m not sure what his point was in writing that article really.LikeLike
October 10, 2011 at 11:26 pm
bleatmop
“The tea partiers had the goofy hats, sure, but these people are walking around naked with only painted nipples and spouting conspiracy theories, and are expecting working people to take them seriously. Not going to happen.”
You have a point there, though I have not saw those pictures.
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October 11, 2011 at 12:13 am
Vern R. Kaine
Hi Bleat,
Here’s the link to the pics I spoke of: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2047168/Occupy-Wall-Street-protesters-make-love-class-war-sex-drugs-tap.html
Re: billionaires and astroturfing, you’re talking top-down financing and I think for every Koch out there, there’s a Soros so it’s rather moot. If these guys are supposedly the 99% as they claim they are, then they should just as easily be able to raise money from everyday people in the same way Ron Paul grass roots supporters come out in droves. Besides, why don’t they just get Michael Moore to chip in a few mil to get them started? ;)
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October 11, 2011 at 12:22 am
Vern R. Kaine
Re: the article, considering the site where the author wrote it I would expect it to have some flaws, however I thought the article’s perspective (especially on a right-wing site) was interesting as it seemed to give some kudos as to how OWS should do it right.
Of course the point of the post was more to point out the extent of their current disorganization, but suffice it to say that even from the perspective of a leftist movement they have a lot of work to do before they can be really taken seriously.
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October 11, 2011 at 2:18 pm
bleatmop
Lol, If I didn’t know better I would say those pictures were straight out of the ’60s. I suppose when you get a bunch of relatively young people together in tight quarters for an extended period of time these things just may happen.
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October 11, 2011 at 3:35 pm
Vern R. Kaine
Ya, but hey, those are our dreamers, right? :)
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October 13, 2011 at 11:15 am
Vern R. Kaine
If anyone doesn’t think big money is behind this movement waiting to benefit just like they were behind Tea Partiers, they’re being naive in my opinion. The links may be indirect (these guys are smart enough not to be directly linked), but they’re there:
“…But Reuters did find indirect financial links between Soros and Adbusters, an anti-capitalist group in Canada which started the protests with an inventive marketing campaign aimed at sparking an Arab Spring type uprising against Wall Street.”
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/13/us-wallstreet-protests-origins-idUSTRE79C1YN20111013
Let the power-grabbing begin! :)
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