Forum Post: Occupy Wall Street: What's Next?

At some point Occupy Wall Street (OWS) will need to make some big decisions. Peaceful protests alone will not solve our problems. Ironically, it will take money, and plenty of it to form a political movement, and eventually support political candidates - much like the Tea Party activists. Change and reform can have its humble beginnings as OWS has proven, but real and meaningful change and/or reform can only happen when working from the inside – and by that I mean from inside the Washington “Beltway.”
We need to ask ourselves some very serious questions, there is no right or wrong response. Please share your views, ideas and comments, thank you.

1. Should these citizens be allowed to continue to occupy Zucotti Park and protest peacefully without police intervention? How long should they be allowed to stay inside the park – a “public space?”
2. Is it necessary for Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council to implement any special rules so that the rights of those citizens either owning businesses or living/working in the neighborhood are not affected by the protest?
3. OWS now has over $500,000 (and growing) in its bank account – what should this money be used to accomplish?
4. Will it be necessary for one individual associated with OWS to be chosen as its leader and spokesperson?
5. Is it reasonable to assume that this protest will need to become a political party much like the Tea Party activists in order to succeed?
6. What effect if any will OWS protest and demonstrations have on the 2012 Presidential election?