Forum Post: Nothing can stop us NOW. . . How OWS supporters can work on reform both from the inside and from the outside

"Sooner or later but mus' , the dam is going to bus', and everyone will break out. What can stop them? The force? What force can stop a river of people who know their course?"

• • Bongo Jerry, Rastafarian poet

I am convinced that we do not need to choose between participating in the system to effect change and working from the outside to effect change. To me, it's a false choice. We can be leaderless (actually I like the term leaderful that someone recently used on this forum) and have focus. We can work from the outside and the inside.

THE INSIDE: We can work collectively from the inside to get the foot of corporatism off our neck, not as an end in itself, but as a means. We can work from the inside in order to buy some breathing room and some time. This will allow us to engage in more important, more far reaching nonviolent direct action that will ultimately undermine the elite's hold on our government. Clearly that's not enough. We also need to put this thing back together again in a way that is true to the intent of our founding fathers. To do this, to work on the inside, we could do things like this http://occupywallst.org/forum/moderating-policies-will-be-reposted-somewhere-pro/ that could result in some legislation that makes a real difference for the movement and real people on the ground in the interim. Again, not a perfect doc my any means. Not an end in and of itself. Just a means to a larger end. Trying to be practical here.

ON THE OUTSIDE: At the same time, all along the way, I agree with others who say we should be working from the outside to expose corruption in the corpopolitical oligarchy and loosen the grip of money on our politics. I personally picture waves of actions, large and small, beating relentlessly against the shore of corporatism. My point is, each of us, the millions, need to rise to be our best selves and apply whatever skills and talents we possess on whichever side of the great effort we can best serve. As we human beings collectively wake from our slumber and shake off the system that has fed on our flesh on and off for 150 years, we'll begin to feel our oats and get our groove on.

Once that confidence reemerges, this all gets fun. I think that's where this is headed in our lifetime. I for one feel fortunate to live in this era. Beautiful to see all that's happening. So many great people. So much to learn.

And the process of awakening is energizing. Like the sun rising through the morning clouds warming your face, this movement warms our spirit. That may sound touchy feely, but it is that very heartwarming experience that attracts and retains participants. That's how we go from being the millions to being the 99% and eventually the 100%. Engaging in community with others on a meaningful project creates a buzz that beats any drink or drug. The fact that we the people will eventually wake up from this buzz free and in control of our government is the icing on the cake.