Forum Post: OWS direct democracy in small villages?

OWS is pushing direct democracy as an horizontal political system where everyone can take part in the decisional process. Occupy factions all around the world have been using it since day one. We know this system was once used by Spanish anarchists and was quite successful at that time. No doubt, Occupy is inspired by this period in Spanish history as David Graeber's father grew up in this system and imparted his open and positive view of anarchy to his son.

A major difference with Occupy is that these Spanish direct democracies were not subjugated by a capitalist system. Occupy factions are small islands of direct democracy operating inside cities which use a capitalist model. The protesters are not workers and don't have their own lands. For this reason, it seems obvious why, although Americans are getting a taste of direct democracy, they are not able to see it function as it normally should.

Isn't it time to put this idea through the ringer? Why doesn't Occupy make a call out for a small village or city which wants to try direct democracy? Perhaps they could choose a village where people mostly do the same kind of work and have the same types of salary, simply to make the transition easier. A symbolic mayor could be kept in place so that he can report to his county. He would be the voice of the decisions passed in general assemblies.

Of course, the current Occupy camps would still be left open so that protesters can spread the message to the world, but it seems to me it's time to test the idea at a more practical level.