We MUST have an end point to the protests

Submitted by Maluhia on

Forums: 

The protests MUST have an end point. We MUST have a goal we wish to accomplish through these protests. Currently we have a muddied random compiled list that is not adequate for the general public to put its support behind.

We can't protest forever and eventually the police are going to try to break us up with more force than they've used so far. That is the only option we've given them. Protests have to end sometime, somehow. Right now the only way is for the police to break it up.

BUT, if we announce a clear list of demands to Congress, then THAT is our new end point. "We'll stop our protests once these demands are met." Until then, the only option is police violence. GIVE ANOTHER OPTION: we MUST list our demands better!!!

I'm worried that our window of opportunity to make a difference with these protests is closing. The general public is getting annoyed, they're being fed images of violence and chaos, their streets are blocked off and it's inconveniencing them... they want us gone. We have to give them a reason to stand behind us! We have to give Congress a list of things to do for us! Right now we're just stomping our feet in tantrum form; we must be adults with concise concrete demands if we want to accomplish anything. And we must list these demands before the police break us up for good (or wait us out - cold weather is coming!)


Yikes! That website needs a

Submitted by Maluhia on

Yikes! That website needs a facelift before anybody is going to give it the time of day! I like the suggestions though very much! I also like these suggestions (and maybe this site has a better look and feel than the other?): http://contract.rebuildthedream.com/?rc=rtd_feature

**********

"I always wondered why somebody doesn't do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody." - Lily Tomlin

I agree, retroactively

Submitted by Supersean on

I had the same concern 3 weeks ago. Now I'm just watching to see what happens. I'm disappointed with the lack of action too, the most effective action to date has been Bank Transfer Day and that was not an Occupy action. I've listened patiently to all the gripes, where are the ideas?

The focus should be on

Submitted by invinoveritas on

The focus should be on repealing the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling, campaign finance reform including addressing the fact that a large corporation can legally and anonymously launder money through a super PAC, and lobbying reform.


 


Keep things simple. Those three points encompass everything the movement is attempting to acheive.


Without focal ideology this movement will be crushed by police brutality and no good will ever come out of it.


The blog I read recently about occupying streets downtown around midnight for no reason is just frankly sad. The police have every right to force you out of a roadway that has not been properly closed off via permit to prepare for such a demonstration. If a drunk driver doesn't plow into the group, the police will break it up forcefully. And for what?


For what?


At least get tear gassed for a reason. Unify, because without unity you have nothing.

It is always better to stop when you should than to take all that you can.


-Lao Zi

I completely agree.

Submitted by Maluhia on

I completely agree. We need focus. I think as individuals we ought to start spreading that focus. This movement doesn't have leaders so it's up to us as individuals to move in the direction we want to see the entire movement go, and hopefully the mass movement will follow.

**********

"I always wondered why somebody doesn't do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody." - Lily Tomlin

alhs06's picture

Maluhia very accurate, very good

Submitted by alhs06 on

 This movement doesn't have leaders so it's up to us as individuals to move in the direction we want to see the entire movement go

That is exactly how this movement was designed, exactly. Not many understand it, as simple as it is, how pathetic & sad. Nice Maluhia, well done.

My picture reads

"Sell a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you ruin a perfectly good business opportunity."

The 1% philosophy

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The Endgame must be Policy Change - and unity with City Hall

Submitted by wdkaye on

The Occupations started and have continued because people rejected the status quo.  Specifically, I mean they are rejecting the unfair coddling of the financial industry by the federal government.  The large bonuses granted to leaders in the financial industry, in light of the massive amount of taxpayer money used to bail them out, was particularly outrageous.

The status quo was a result of bad policy.  Our federal government was complicit in allowing the current situation to occur.  Massive debt resulted from decades of a government that spent more than it earned.  Two wars in the last decade also significantly depleted our resources.

We must demand that these failed policies be changed.  Key parts of this bad policy: the removal of Glass-Steagall, the Citizens United decision, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, have already been identified by many in this movement as significant problems.  There is wide consensus that these policies need to be reversed.

But these are national issues; our occupation is at City Hall, the seat of power in Los Angeles.  Protesting the above issues in front of City Hall is like holding an anti-McDonalds rally at Pink's Hot Dogs.

However, there is no reason why City Hall can't be our ally as we make demands toward the federal government.  These decades of bad policy have sapped our city as well.  There is reason to be wary of the ties our officials have with lobbyists and industry, but it is also likely that City Hall, like the rest of us, are victims of the federal goverment as well.

We can unite with the legitimate authority of Los Angeles, to appeal to the structures of power above us - the County of Los Angeles, and the State of California - to demand policy change of the United States Government.  Even if Congress won't act, the State Legislatures of two-thirds of the United States can demand a Constitutional Convention.  Let California lead the nation, once again.

-Warren

End points

Submitted by laguy on

It should be a long movement spanning multiple decades. The initial goals are discussed here:

http://www.nycga.net/groups/political-and-electoral-reform/forum/topic/mike-check-for-president-a-nota-protest-vote/

If in this method we can get more than 50% vote, we can then be assured of majority support behind the movement and proceed to call for an Article V(5) constitutional convention to discuss changes in the constitution. More about this here:

http://www.themultitude.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&p=2914&sid=ff949a24a5359a887fd86aa60b62146c#p2914

The most active, organized and best moderated forum for the Occupy Wall Street movement: http://www.themultitude.org

No Demands

Submitted by kharnal on

If we truly come to represent the 99% our objectives become manifest.

Our challenge is to represent the 99% of people who our current representation has failed throughout history.

As the movement grows, it will change. Keep your hearts and minds open.

Peace, love, and solidarity

-Evan

Evan Kashinsky - Keepin' It Real #77

Without demands, nothing will change.

Submitted by wdkaye on

My opinion: There are no guarantees with this 'movement'.  It could be gone tomorrow.  We can't expect it to last some undefined amount of time.

But right now, we have a tremendous opportunity.  We have the spotlight; we can influence the national dialogue.  We can do this by giving our occupation a 'reason' or 'cause'.

This is the kind of opportunity that presents itself maybe once every 50 years, and I don't want to waste it.  I won't sit back and just let whatever happen; I will demand a better future.

Thanks, -Warren

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