How to manipulate the Government and not get your head cracked

[mikelewis]

I don't know about you but I'm not in any hurry to go toe to toe with a state trooper or national guardsman. Flocking in among a huge numbers of "rabble rouser's" to voice my dissent seems passe, and quite unhealthy. Chaining myself to a tree only to have someone swab tear gas in my eyes seems equally pointless and equally less desirable. No matter how successful mass protest was 30 years ago, we have different weapons at our disposal now and it's time we started exploring alternative ways of using these techniques to our advantage.

In the past, mass protest was essential because it served two major purposes. The first was exposure for the cause. A large crowd of 10, 20, 50, 100 thousand people brought media exposure and ultimately sent a message to the people in charge that this group was serious about an issue. The second purpose was for people to gain information about the issue. The "Internets" weren't around 30 years ago. Information spread at the speed of the mail and telephone calls. The amount of information was limited by expenditures of time and money. Imagine trying to research 9/11 without instant access to millions of pages of information. Imagine not being able to simply click a button and pull up HR 235 and actually read the proposed bill the second you decide you want to. Imagine not having instant access to audio/video/pictures/news stories/quotes anything and everything we now enjoy. The age of mass protest was essential for the Vietnam Era but I am not so sure it is necessary now.

Today, we have better means at our disposal to actually effect change on our government. There's no need to travel hundreds of miles across the country to stand in protest. Our leaders don't care if we do and the press won't waste time reporting it anyway so the first purpose of a mass protest is defeated before it begins. The second purpose of information sharing is satisfied by the Internet thanks to the DU and Google. So how do we use the Internet and the other weapons in our arsenal to achieve our goals?

Instead of organizing a mass protest where people from all over the country drive to a location and carry misspelled signs, I think could have a telephone protest. How effective would it be if a Senator received 10, 20, 50 or 100 thousand phone calls on the same day, all stating the same thing? Prior to January 6th, when we wanted a Senator to stand up in protest against accepting the Ohio electoral votes, we essentially shut down Washington with our phone calls. This campaign was a success because we actually got what we asked for. We asked for 1 Senator to stand up and that's what we got, Barbara Boxer. We wanted 100 but we asked for 1. We succeeded in challenging the election and empowering one of our greatest Senators. What's more, not one person got hit by a riot baton or sprayed with pepper spray. Not one person was injured or arrested. The protest in New York at the RNC Rally only resulted in 19,000 arrests. In spite of how great it must have felt to be a part of that protest, what did it accomplish?

In stead of trying to organize a mass protest, why don't we start utilizing the things we all have at our disposal to start turning the tide against these tyrants? We could get 1,000 people to make 20 phone calls. We could get 2,000 people to post 5 signs along the highway. We can print out stickers on our printers and stick them on the mirrors in restrooms. The reason our military can't win in Iraq is because the enemy refuses to congregate in one area. We can't fight our military or our police forces and frankly, I don't want to. These people are citizens of this country and they shouldn't be placed into that position. I love and support our troops and our police. In spite of some of the Jackboot mentality they have, I don't want to see anyone fighting them on the streets. These aren't the people were pissed at. Let's start using our heads a bit and come up with a new way to protest that is truly non-violent.

Please use this topic to suggest alternative means of protest that are reasonable, efficient, result-oriented and non-violent. Let's prove that we are indeed as smart as we think we are.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Still, Mike...

You have to admit, there certainly is something to the immediacy of a few hundred thousand people all in one place, all at one time, all in full voice.

Tends to concentrate the attention of the people the demonstrations are aimed at, ya'know?

[mikelewis]

2. But is it necessary to expend such a huge amount of energy...

The energy required to bring together a few hundred thousand people in protest is massive and sadly missing in our country. Are there other means that we have that can actually accomplish our goals and require less force?

How effective would it be if in 50 cities across the country 20 people got together on the same day and posted 50 signs on the highways and byways? That's 50,000 signs that will be seen by thousands and thousands of people.

How effective would it be if those same 50 people in 50 cities placed 200 stickers on the mirrors in public restrooms? That's 500,000 stickers. If the goal of a protest is to raise the awareness of an issue, wouldn't these things serve that purpose?

[poverlay]

5. I completely agree but all

of these tactics are designed to wake up other people and get them to see what is going on around them. Sooner or later the people in power must be made to see the power of the people. A large mass of people marching strikes fear into the corridors of power like nothing else. I do wish a huge online petition would do the same thing, but it really doesn't. That's why there's been such a crackdown on protests, rallies, and marches. This business of having to get a permit to assemble is frightening... Our power is in numbers and they're taking it away.

[dweller]

6. no, our power is in 1's and 2's

just like me and you.

from there it's exponential.
dp

[wtmusic]

7. yep

decision makers have been anaesthetized to faxes, phone calls, and emails. Showing up at their office or rally with a few thousand of your best friends is irreplaceable.

btw, welcome to DU poverlay

:bounce: :toast: :bounce:

[PATRICK]

3. Uneasily agree

but I think a large part of our knuckling under in America is due to not enough boots on the ground. With our numbers we should be doing BOTH and both feeding building on the other.

The alienation and splitting of the nation was only aggravated by Vietnam. I think protests are nowhere near so divisive now with so little to justify the Oil Wars and the blatant lies. Most peace protests are of a larger segment and not anti-troops in tone at all. However, I don't expect officers who thrashed innocent protesters or maced babies to cause a backlash OR the MSM to stop pandering to the WH and muffling the streets(and Internet!). Martyrdom is not a guaranteed restorative under present conditions. Upping the ante to deaths like Kent State would likely prove undecisive as well.

Neither are lies, distractions or divisions exactly missing from Internet
strategies either. There again the advantages are truth and numbers versus money and unscrupulous lies.

What the author is suggesting is a creative amalgam like the flash crowds, the single point objectives, taking advantage of the massive numbers of better smarter people with better smarter causes finding tactics the RW can barely comprehend or refrain from scorn until they get duly clobbered in the hearts and minds of the demos.

The same as when Will Pitt via the PDA(or vice versa) enlists help from our forums for a single point objective of great merit. The greater good is the effect- without cancerous violence- sparked by new spontaneities, not turf pride in following a particular fiefdom banner or dedicated methodology from the past.

Sometimes it seems we get people out in greater numbers to the streets when it is obviously too late in the game to really bother the established Coup. Silly when they are so predictable, ham-handed and openly in illegal motion. Too comfortable or conversely too uselessly painful. We leave Excalibur in the stone and walk around grumbling or blaming. We have to want to win and want to offer up our pain effectively at least in some small part, self-satisfaction being the least motive.

Spontaneity. Vast numbers. Coalitions and concentrated activist organizations. Cross cooperation and openness. Enlisting practical minds, idealistic, mischeivous, creative and ferocious. Ingenious and non-violent effectiveness. Spreading, relentless support. Undermining the Coup infrastructure and media lock. Concentrated points of achievable goals. Unpredictability. Flexibility. Single-minded and unrelenting dedication beyond pride of cause, persons, or accomplishment.

Or you can wear out a lot of unfilmed shoe leather and retire exhausted
and self-vindicated to another day in the death of the human race. Yes it is noble and still a necessity. No, there is no reason to think it will work by itself automatically with the current abysmal level of public suppression. Definitely more people will die every day and future crises will be aggravated into vaster tragedies.

[dweller]

4. nominated

in hope that your message gets 2 or more members to do the same.

sometimes the least gets more.
dp

[frictionlessO]

8. Dear Mike,

What you said makes complete sense with the exception of the either/or 'tude in regards to protests. Protests are multi purpose and if nothing else help solidfy and vent an opposing view. We can and will do all of these things you talked about.

The phonetest fo the Boxer Rebellion needs to be repeated and soon, I think we should someday in the next week or so lend this kind of voice to the leaked memo from the UK. Conyers has his initiall 88 sigs with more coming down the pipe, Im willing to bet there is at least one senator getting a letter ready for the senate. When that letter comes out we should do the phonetest again.... whatcha think??

[Griffy]

9. As long as they know you wont risk physical harm.. they win!

A bully is a bully... I'm all for the internet and the telephone.. but I WAS AT THE CAPITOL on the 6th .. and there were a thousand there or so.... had there been a million people on the mall, Kerry would be president! When logic and reason are ignored... you cant reason with a lion, to him, your food!

Now, I too have little desire to put my head on the line.. but I wont wait for them to come get me at my house! So I email and call the media and the congress.... I speak at every gathering I go to about the dead media and the bush lies... I write notes on newspapers in the metro and leave them there (this is interesting, write some truth that the media overlooks in bold ink and set the paper on the seat opposite you and wait) We are the pamphletteers of the 21st century, we are spreading the word... but if the powers that be say "so what" to everything, we may have no choice but to use a "show of force" to get bush to comply. ... failing that we will have a civil war here!

So write and call and talk and shout.... but never believe that those in power will give up easily!!!

[Lars39]

10. National strikes, freeway blogging, pamphleteering

Do what you can, when you can.

[mahina]

11. Gene Sharp's 198 methods of nonviolent resistance

Withhold cooperation!
This institute is a fantastic resource for really good information, downloadable for free. Toss a couple bucks if there way one day if you can, they are a gift to all of us.
These people have worked for peace all over the world and developed the ideas, methods, practical applications to make real change happed. Check it out.
Also the PBS documentary "A Force More Powerful" will show how we can bring the govt around. I reccomend it for house parties particularly. Anyone who thinks they are too small to change anything never watched an ant!

Please go to the Publications page and check out the 198 methods of nonviolent resistance. He also wrote The Anti Coup which we certainly could have used in Nov 04.

http://www.aeinstein.org/organizations.php3?orgid=88&typeID=4&action=printContentTypeHome&User_Session=f4376aa81e80adb588fb21f36cb98a8a

[satya]

14. This looks great--thanks! n/t

[mahina]

15. So glad you find it useful. I certainly do.

Seiously, if your library has a copy of A Force More Powerful vhs or DVD you will never forget it.
We can do it, people have chosen freedom all over the world. You don't need a charismatic leader or more power, all you need it coordination (hello) and determination and some smarts. We can do it. SI SE PUEDE!

[TrogL]

12. What's worked for me

You can stand in the courtyard and shout yourself blue in the face (I think I'm mixing my metaphors) and accomplish nothing.

I volunteered for the campaign of my Member of Parliament. I was the guy out there banging signs into the ground. She's see me at the back door loading up the van or at the dispensary getting my bleeding hands taped up.

What do I get out of it? Face time. I can have as much as I want (within reason). As a result, I've been able to make several meaningful contributions in the areas of gay rights, medical marijuana and keeping Canada out of the Iraq war. The meeting about the latter ended up with me covering her desk with maps explaining the "Great Game".

[satya]

13. In a war against fascism (corporatism), $$$ is the weapon of choice, IMHO.

We're on the right track with the campaigns to "buy blue", but I think the message would have more impact if these efforts were concentrated. Say, for instance, on May NN, everyone called Company X and closed their account, giving the same reason. People who are able and willing to get out in the streets could protest outside of Company X's headquarters on the same day.

We could also show our strength in a positive way by spending/donating on the same day. Even $1, when multiplied by the power of our numbers, could make a statement. The important thing is to let the powers-that-be know that there are a lot of us, we know what's going on, we don't like it and we're getting organized.