You know that massive national general strike that's going to be needed soon?

[agent46]

Back in the heady days of Occupy, organizing a general strike was clearly a direction the movement was headed. Occupy enclaves across the country were starting to self-organize and communicate with each other. Divisions were being overcome. Many excellent outside-the-box ideas were being tried and some of them were sure to stick. A few of those would have certainly lead to forced change and higher civic and social awareness across America.

I think "the establishment" knew that. They were justifiably alarmed and produced the iron boot. I also believe a general strike would have happened by now if the movement hadn't been taken down by the unconstitutional HLS directed police state - which remains in place.

So what's next? I think concerned Americans and progressive activist groups of every kind need to network and organize silently and massively online. The tools are there. We need to create a monolithic front of inter-reliance and communication in order to peacefully unplug the corporate regime from control of our political power. Just because this has never been done, doesn't mean it's not possible to make history now.

This pattern will keep repeating until we do.


I came across this excellent book a few years ago. It explores the idea of a self-organizing movement of countless smaller activist organizations gathering their power together to ultimately achieve the progress each have been striving for. I'm not selling this by the way, just recommending it. It's called Blessed Unrest by Paul Hawken

[haikugal]

1. Thanks...

http://www.amazon.com/Blessed-Unrest-Largest-Movement-Restoring/dp/0143113658

I'm always looking for good information.

[leftyohiolib]

2. people start protesting they make protsting illegal what recourse do we have - maybe ows should have

gotten violent instead of just sitting there and taking the pepper spray

[agent46]

3. I agree

Protesting in the street doesn't work like it used to. If our voices aren't being listened to because we have no leverage, no matter how loud or angry we get, our protests won't change anything.

I'm suggesting something more radical that doesn't include making noise in the public square. I'm suggesting upping the game. Using the online tools available now in 21st century, people and organizations can organize and communicate like never before. ALEC has done this massively - entire state legislatures have been turned into pawns of the corporate right.

I see no reason why ordinary Americans and progressive organizations can't start getting on the same sheet of music. The infrastructure and expertise is already in place.

Believe me, I'm no leader. But the leaders are all already there. They can start networking and moving forward together. The labor movement of the early 20th century accomplished much through organizing international solidarity with far fewer tools at their disposal.

Actually, this idea isn't even radical these days, come to think of it - just the implementation would be.

What is there to lose? Seeing how there's no one at the top watching out for the people of this country anymore.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. Well, forty five years ago

There was an illegal strike in Memphis...

Then last week there was a hunger strike in San Diego. You need to lose that fear.

[Isoldeblue]

4. I'm game....

Occupy was bullied! The way the organization was illegally disbanded by the Koch brothers and ALEC is a stain on our democracy.

[agent46]

7. It wasn't a loss

The Occupy movement introduced the 99% meme and woke up much of the country to the reality of class warfare. It changed the national dialog on many levels.

[Isoldeblue]

15. That is so true

Again, my lack of words, didn't accurately portray my thoughts. See #14.

But I do want to support the movement of any actions to bring justice and change the way our country is being run.

Just watched Chris Hayes do a segment about what the banks are paying out to people who were foreclosed on, illegally. It is obscene how little the people who lost so much and went thru hell are getting and what the banks, CEO's and auditors have made!
Between intelligent journalism like that and the OM, people will begin to push back.

[Zorra]

9. Occupy is not an organization, and we have not "disbanded".

We are a leaderless resistance movement, and we're all still here.

The revolution continues worldwide.

[agent46]

11. Yes you are still here

That is a fact. The Occupy movement is in no way a loss. I hope my posts didn't suggest that - or that it is a single organization. It is most certainly a hub - a movement of committed human beings. I get that.

[Isoldeblue]

14. I'm sorry - I meant

that your gatherings were so violently disbanded, not the actual existing group.

I shouldn't post when I'm not up to snuff and omit key words.

I stand corrected on the word, organization.

I know you're still there, quietly doing the work that will save our country.

[Brickbat]

5. Organize silently online?

What exactly does that look like? And organize what?

[agent46]

6. Union is your religion

You tell me.

[Pointy_n_sharp]

8. Lots of were and would have and should have in there...

[agent46]

10. That's how

That's how heuristics works, Pointy_n_sharp. Don't mistake learning from the past for Pollyannaish regret.

[agent46]

13. Kicking in hopes that DU

is more of an Underground for Democracy than just a Democratic Party message board.

[Floyd_Gondolli]

16. I'll believe it when I see it

That's one of the things I admire about the Brits, and the French. When their citizenry is pissed off they take to the streets.

In this country, outside of those who are activists like the OWS folks, it's just a lot of talk. What a national strike would require is rank and file people getting out and expressing themselves in ways they haven't before. I'm talking about soccer moms, white collar types and the like. People who in the past haven't otherwise been political or politically active.

As it is most people here are either too apathetic, or too worried about reprisals both by their employer or law enforcement to really take to the streets and make some noise en masse (I'm talking millions). We've largely been neutered in that regard.

[avaistheone1]

17. I think your idea is timely and worth exploring seriously.

Even if a general walkout was conducted for an hour or two it would send a powerful message.

[killbotfactory]

18. It's time to revive the "One Big Union" idea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Big_Union_(concept)

[agent46]

19. One Big Union

Nothing is stopping the citizens of this country from massively taking action in solidarity. I wonder if the Occupy movement activists and citizen journalists are still networking with each other and live streaming across the country or if that infrastructure is even still in place. Does anyone know?

[mick063]

21. Non lethal force technology

It is the wave of the future.

Mob control is where your tax money is being spent. It is cheaper to implement than actually feeding people and now that we run government like a business, it makes good business sense as well.

I feel sorry for your grandchildren. We are then envy of the old Politburo.

[agent46]

22. Yes

And that's why taking activism and massive organizing to cyberspace (as described above) makes sense.