Occupy America

[The Teacher]

I've seen a lot of protests in my time. I've been to my share. This Occupy Wall Street, 99 percent thing just feels different to me. Anyone here google NYC General Assembly? Do you think there is potential here?

I know some on this site have criticized the protesters for being to disorganized (its a leaderless movement) and not being "class conscious" but you can't deny that the whole thing is tapping directly into class resentment

[RGacky3]

the fact that its leaderless is a plus, not being class conscious???? THey're protesting wall street .... It IS organized, thats waht the general assembally is about.

I think there is plenty of potential here and I think its great.

[Lobotomy]

You know, for all the left has enjoyed mocking and dismissing Occupy Wall Street and generally tearing it apart, there are like 5 threads on it on this site. I'm not criticizing you for starting another thread, OP, I'm just pointing out that there has been a fair amount of rather extensive discussion on it. Despite how so many say it's useless because it's unorganized, lacks class consciousness, full of middle class people etc etc--and to an extent I agree with them--we've still talked about it for days now.

Idk man. I think it could have potential but it's kind of unlikely. At the same time I don't want to shame anyone going down there. The recession in the US affected almost anyone who was not bourgeois, so if people have grievances and they can direct them toward the right people, good for them.

[Bud Struggle]

You know, for all the left has enjoyed mocking and dismissing Occupy Wall Street and generally tearing it apart, there are like 5 threads on it on this site..

5 straws.

[Robert]

Do you think there is potential here?Sure, there's potential everywhere. But it doesn't appear that they are trying to gain control of the levers of power. (That's why the national media doesn't care very much about them.)

According to Adbusters (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adbusters), a primary protest organizer, the central demand of the protest is that President (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President) Barack Obama (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama) "ordain a Presidential Commission tasked with ending the influence money has over our representatives in Washington.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupy_Wall_Street

That's simple reformism, as I understand it. Which isn't chopped liver. But it's not revolution.

I started to say they need to focus more on local organization. But that would have been unfair, as they are trying to coordinate their protests with local counterparts around the country. They should study the Tea Party, who at least is getting its voice heard in places that can seriously advance their racist, crypto-fascist, xenophobic agenda.

[Lobotomy]

They should study the Tea Party, who at least is getting its voice heard in places that can seriously advance their racist, crypto-fascist, xenophobic agenda.

The only reason the Tea Party can get their voices heard is because of the corporate interests backing their asses up, plus the fact that they're practically spouting off textbook pro-bourgeois propaganda.

[Robert]

The only reason the Tea Party can get their voices heard is because of the corporate interests backing their asses up, plus the fact that they're practically spouting off textbook pro-bourgeois propaganda.

Gross exaggeration, but even if it's true, it doesn't let the protesters off the hook for the big shrug they are getting.

You think corporate interests supported other historic demonstrations by the People? The anti-globalization riots in Seattle 2009 were covered well enough (I saw it on the news anyway); same with 2003 and 2004 anti Iraq war protests. For some reason I can't think of anything in the 80's or 90's. Oh yeah I can, pro-life and pro-choice demonstrations outside the supreme court were well covered.

And then the antiwar and civil rights/de-segregation demonstrations in the 60's and 70's were all over the news. There was no corporate agenda being advanced there. You get a focused message and some serious numbers on the street and the media will pay attention.

[RGacky3]

You think corporate interests supported other historic demonstrations by the People? The anti-globalization riots in Seattle 2009 were covered well enough (I saw it on the news anyway); same with 2003 and 2004 anti Iraq war protests. For some reason I can't think of anything in the 80's or 90's. Oh yeah I can, pro-life and pro-choice demonstrations outside the supreme court were well covered.


THese were one off demonstrations, and they were HUGE.

THe Seattle protests were covored, but as what? A bunch of crazy anarchist violent people.

If Wall Street does get covored its just for the same reaons.

Its really a shame seeing people here on revleft criticizing what I consider the most important protest since Wisconsin.

[The Teacher]

What some people don't get is that protests are emotional, not intellectual. That's why this one is different. The TPers tap into the rage and fear of elderly white people and right wing nuts. This protest is tappin into the discontent of everyone who has been injuered by Wall Street and the corporate oligarchs. And that is a lot of people, including many who can't be dismissed as "hippies" or "college radicals."

[RGacky3]

And that is a lot of people, including many who can't be dismissed as "hippies" or "college radicals."

People that dismiss people as "hippies" or "college radicals" are making a huge mistake, had it not been for them many of the improvements we saw in the 60s and 70s would'nt have happened.

[The Teacher]

People that dismiss people as "hippies" or "college radicals" are making a huge mistake, had it not been for them many of the improvements we saw in the 60s and 70s would'nt have happened.

Very true. Unfortunately, many people are making that mistake. The point is, this seems to be a much broader coalition. The kind that isn't easily turned into a punch line.

[Bud Struggle]

Very true. Unfortunately, many people are making that mistake. The point is, this seems to be a much broader coalition. The kind that isn't easily turned into a punch line.

Wanna bet?

:D

[The Teacher]

Well, right wingers mock anyone who isn't wearing a three corner hat with tea bags stapled to it.

[hatzel]

Anybody who's a fan of Regina Spektor on Facebook (like I am) will know that she's constantly making comments in support of the protest. The more public figures come out on the protesters' side, the better, as far as I'm concerned. It at least proves there's some serious support of their intentions, and it definitely seems to me as though there's relatively widespread approval :)

[Bud Struggle]

Anybody who's a fan of Regina Spektor...


The Queen of Death?

Ouch--I googled (a capitalist tool is there was one.) her. She's real.