The beauty of OWS is that it’s name sums-up its goal: to stop a finance-dominated economic elite from gambling with the world’s wealth. Simple. Post-ideological. People feel something’s wrong; OWS gives that voice. Beware of criticism that OWS is unfocused . What is more focused than its name: OCCUPY WALL STREET? Imposing more specific demands would narrow its appeal and kill it.
OWS doesn’t need to do much more than it already is doing. It’s purpose is summed up in its name. It differentiates from the Tea Party by the target, Wall Street, of its protest. It implicitly condemns the government – not for being too big or small or activist – but for allowing Wall Street to run amuck while neither Democrats or Republicans lift a finger to stop the assualt on homes and jobs Other groups can try to claim the sentiment and energy of OWS as long as they don’t try to steer OWS itself into specific reforms that will inevitably bogg it down in debate and division.
Look at it this way. The ‘right’ has wedge issues to confuse, divide and conquer. The ‘left’ plague is the single-issue advocacy arising out of the ’60s but irrelevant to today’s problems. Both draw extremes. Neither is effective. Together they’ve made a mess of things.
OWS rises above wedge issues and single-issue advocacy by not addressing them. It’s not OWS’s mission to propose solutions. Many are on the table already. OWS’ single purpose is building enough pressure to force reforms on the institutions that run our lives. The greater the pressure, the deeper the reform.
The American system desperately needs a shaking up. Limp and atrophied, it’s been brought to its knees by the political posturing of career politicians. OWS could become a massive counter force against cronyism, fraud and greed. If OWS continues to breath and absorb people, each of whom may have their own agendas, into a super-movement targeting Wall Street miscreants and their Washington enablers, it will earn a place in history. Beware of attempts to pigeon hole it into anything else.
Under that large umbrella, other groups can figure out legislative agendas. But don’t A lot of people ridicule OWS as being disorganized and having not agenda. Nonsense! The agenda is as clear as daylight. Stop a finance-dominated economic elite that gambles with the world’s wealth. ‘You can no longer hide’ is the message.
It’s an open message
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