Forum Post: Looking ahead/Becoming Organized
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 8, 2011, 11:32 a.m. EST by biggil91
(2)
from Portland, OR
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Things have been chaotic and at times lacking focus of what we are protesting/what our demands are. That is to be expected because it is still in it's infancy pretty much every where outside of Wall Street. I think this movement needs to look at the biggest and most successful social movement in history, the Civil Rights movement. Take on that model of organization and model of effecting change. At some point we have to move beyond occupying a spot. We have to hit them in their pocket book by removing money out of these large banks and striking against buying non-essential goods. We have to get in their face through marches and sit ins while staying non-violent. We need a coherent list of demands like money out of politics, ending corporate personhood, quality teachers & education for everyone, free college, universal healthcare, a living wage, ending government waste, better environmental enforcement, ending corporate welfare, stop sending jobs overseas, bring jobs shipped away back, closing tax loopholes, and increasing taxes on the wealthiest Americans. Right now everyone is expressing a individual agenda and there is no collective or national agenda.
Great comment MJT. We need to get this going!!
Put some teeth into it one fang at a time: organize a 'close-out' and get as many people you can to line up at Bank of America to close their accounts - if they don't have accounts, they should clog their systems with questions about WHY they deceived their fellow Americans just to make a buck? Get some TEETH!
I think you raise a pretty good point. In trying to 'take this all in' I feel like I'm left with more questions than real answers. The challenge for this 'movement' will be how to survive the rapid pace of 'misinformation' and chatter which builds at a rate far outpacing the ability of people to actually figure some shit out. Building on historical movements is a good suggestion, though with the Civil Rights movement the main objective and target was pretty clear. Here the challenges are a bit more illusory. What we need is less flowery talk and more specifics on what and how. (my opinion and I'm admittedly far removed from the 'center' of whatever this is. It is easy to criticize what one doesn’t fully understand, so I’ll own that bias.)
Completely agree jasontec. I am looking forward to seeing it mature.