For those that don't "get" what OWS is all about

[Harmony Blue]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgPYnrC5kOI&feature=related

I hope that provides a glimpse of what the struggle has always been about. You can thank me later. :hippie:

[Common Sense Party]

1. "The struggle" has always been about the ancient Greeks?

You have to do better than that.

I swear, if anyone here thinks you're going to get 100% of the 99% behind this movement without being CLEAR AS CRYSTAL about what this movement is trying to ACCOMPLISH, you are sadly mistaken and it is doomed to failure.

[Harmony Blue]

2. It is more than just about the Ancient Greeks

The documentary clearly answers your argument.

All people seek justice, order,social and economic fairness, and most importantly the common good of all. This what binds civilizations if you don't want to watch the documentary.

[Common Sense Party]

4. Well, no, I don't have time to watch the documentary, so thank you

for summing up.

THAT'S what needs to be done if a unified, coherent message is going to come out of the OWS movement.

You can't just tell someone, "Go watch this Greek documentary and you'll see what this is all about." That. Won't. Work. People are busy, trying to keep their heads above water. Be clear. Be succinct. Be specific.

And, unfortunately, not ALL people seek social and economic fairness or the common good of all. Or, they may THINK they do, but they may have a definition of those ideals that is 180-degrees different from yours. So, again, we MUST be specific.

[Harmony Blue]

7. Sorry I disagree

the OWS movement has been specific and that is the 1% vs 99%. This current struggle happened during 508 BC as well. A lot has changed, but that struggle continues to this day.

[Common Sense Party]

8. Sorry I disagree

1% vs 99% is anything but specific.

[Old and In the Way]

3. I "get" the reasons for OWS and there are lots of valid ones.

What I don't "get" is a solution to address them.

[Harmony Blue]

5. The point of protests in a Democrarcy

is to bring about attention, and transparency. A Democracy that doesn't have transparency, and public spaces that can not be accessed is in sad shape. The goal is to bring up awareness, and this blunt reality is the best way.

Without the OWS movement, most ordinary Americans would tell you to put your tin foil hat away if you told them that American citizens would be denied from a public space. And yet it is happening, and some are starting to connect the dots.

Protests and voting are the two pillars of Democracy, and thus both must be embraced for a healthy Democracy.

[Old and In the Way]

11. That's cool! Education and exercising democracy are good things.

I'm just waiting for this broad and energized movement to coalesce around clearly defined goals that can lead to meaningful social change.

[Common Sense Party]

6. Most OWS have not done sales, marketing or any kind of persuasion.

You MUST give people a solution to their problems, then encourage them to TAKE SPECIFIC ACTIONS to get that solution.

If you don't do that, then you're wasting time banging drums and you won't accomplish anything.

[Harmony Blue]

9. In the documentary the ordinary Athenian people rose up

despite not having the solution in their hand. Only after they took control of the city and threw out the Spartans did the idea of a Democracy come to fruition. Essentially, that undermines your entire argument. Why worry about crossing a river, when you first must climb the mountain? Climb the mountain, and once over it, then you must find the solution for crossing the river.

Sales, marketing, and persuasion will accomplish a short term flux of excitement (see Tea Party) but what ends up happening is that a movement tends to lose momentum and becomes to rigid.

OWS works because it is dynamic, and in constant flux.

[Common Sense Party]

10. I predict it will fizzle unless it gains clarity.

You say "it works" but the results will tell us if that is true. Time will tell.

[Harmony Blue]

12. My common sense tells me

that protests and voting are integral to Democracy and intertwined.

[pnwmom]

17. Yes, but specific protests, not protests with fuzzy and moving goals.

Protests that are deliberately leaderless, and deliberately without clearly defined goals.

[kenfrequed]

18. I disagree with you

Your perception about the protests having no goals or no specific policy is absurd. Most protests are a bit on the vauge side. What you are asking for is akin to demanding bumper stickers be formated for debate society. Voicing opposition for government's sevicing the wealthy IS voicing opposition to every tax break for the rich. Voicing opposition ot citizens united and against government by bribery is exactly what it says.

I really don't understand how it could be more clear. This is Class Warfare. This is what it is. This is how we begin to fight back. Whining about a lack of leadership and goals is just that. Whining.

The energy and fire is there. Get on board. Get involved and get engaged and Push. Push like you never have before because this is a time for everyone to lead. This is a time and a rare opportunity to try to right the inequities of the generations before and seize back power for the people.

Rail against lobbyists and push for campaign finance reform. Call your damned congressman. Do something while there is a populist tailwind.

If you decide to do nothing I would ask then "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!"

[Old and In the Way]

14. I'm with you on this.

Unless it harnesses the power of the movement by identifying common objectives and working to meet them, OWS will just become a footnote in American history. It has the potential to do great things, but it has to decide what those things are and produce/promote a gameplan to accomplish them..

[Abq_Sarah]

13. And appears to be without an end goal

To the majority of people.

I get why people are upset. I'M upset but I'm not going to squat in a park to voice disapproval. The problem is in Washington. I'm sure the politicians are happy as clams that tens of thousands of people aren't descending on THEIR neighborhoods and protesting 24/7 outside of the Congress.

[randome]

19. You got that right.

If OWS is supposed to be challenging the Powers-That-Be, they are more than content to watch them wasting time on fighting over camping rights in public parks.

OWS plays right into their hands the longer they remain unfocussed.

Although the march on Wall Street is a step in the right direction, IMO.

[pnwmom]

16. In the documentary? Are you kidding?

You'll never get the support of a strong majority of Americans for the OWS movement if they don't know what they're supporting -- and that the result will be better than the status quo.

What you're offering is the promise of anarchy -- that's not going to appeal to the vast majority of the public.

[pnwmom]

15. +1000.